Cocrystallization of microamounts of 137Cs, 90Sr, and 90Y from aqueous solutions with the solid phase of mixed potassium neodymium ferrocyanide

Abstract

Cocrystallization of microamounts of 137Cs, 90Sr, and 90Y with the solid phase of mixed potassium neodymium ferrocyanide was studied in relation to the K4[Fe(CN)6]: Nd(NO3)3 ratio in aqueous solution. At the K4[Fe(CN)6]: Nd(NO3)3 ratio higher than 2, all the radionuclides studied virtually quantitatively (to 96–99%) cocrystallize with the KNd[Fe(CN)6]·4H2O solid matrix. The cocrystallization coefficients D calculated by the Henderson-Krechek equation exceed 103. Leaching of 137Cs and 152Eu from the K(137Cs)Nd(152Eu)· [Fe(CN)6]·4H2O solid matrix with water and with aqueous solutions of HNO3 (0.1 and 1.0 M) and KOH (4.0 M) was studied.