Nanodispersion of ferrocianides for purification of man-made contaminated water containing caesium

Abstract

A method of obtaining a nanodispersion of nickel-potassium ferrocyanides intended for purification of man-made polluted waters is proposed. It is applicable to purify effluent and floor drain water at nuclear power plants, which contains caesium, strontium, cobalt, manganese and other transition metals. The optimal conditions for the synthesis of nanodispersion have been determined, which is represented by clusters of nanoparticles associated with water molecules and nitrates dispersed in a dilute solution of nickel and potassium nitrates. On the surface of the formed nanocrystals there are fragments of structures of smaller formations. The mechanism of sorption of ions of alkali, alkaline earth and transition metals is investigated considering the ion charge density. The effect of competing ions (strontium, cobalt, manganese) on the sorption of caesium is taken into account. An integrated method of purification of multi-component man-made solutions including drainage waters of nuclear power plants is based on the use of nanodispersion of nickel-potassium ferrocyanides in combination with bentonite clay, which allows removing caesium from the drainage simulator with an efficiency of 96%, and strontium and transition metal ions (cobalt, manganese, copper, iron) with an efficiency of at least 98%.