Deactivation of Spent Ion-exchange Resins Contaminated by Cesium and Cobalt Radionuclides

Abstract

Simulation of iron oxide (magnetite and maghemite) and aluminosilicate (sillimanite and cyanite) deposits formed on the surface of spent ionexchange resins in the process of decontamination of liquid radioactive waste contaminated by cesium and cobalt radionuclides has been performed. A method of deep deactivation of spent ion-exchange resins contaminated by aluminosilicate and iron oxide deposits using alkaline and acidic solutions containing Zn-EDTA complexes has been suggested. The method of two-stage concentrating of cesium radionuclides using selective sorption materials (resorcinol-formaldehyde resin and Thermoxid-35 ferrocyanide sorbent) has been improved. The method advantage consists in using a solution containing EDTA complexes for elution of cesium radionuclides from the resorcinol-formaldehyde resin with their transition onto Thermoxid-35. High stability of the resorcinol-formaldehyde resin and Thermoxid-35 in the course of concentrating has been demonstrated. A scheme of deactivation of spent ion-exchange resins, which enables one to decrease the volume of secondary wastes due to utilization of a circulating water supply, has been suggested.