On the Disposal of Radioactive Waste Solutions by Ion Exchange Pulps

Abstract

In treating radioactive waste solutions by an ion exchange method, ion exchangers of high exchange capacities and at low costs are desirable.It is well known that the certain chemically modified pulps show the ion exchange properties similar to those of the ion exchange resins.These are made by the introduction of substituent groups with basic or acidic properties into the cellulose molecule under such conditions so that the fabric structure is retained.This paper discusses the ion exchange properties of dissolving pulp, oxidized pulp (by nitrogen per oxide) and phosphorylated pulps (by curing pulp with a mixture of phosphoric acid and urea) with Sr90-Y90 in Sr (NO3) 2 solution.It is found that the total capacities and decontamination coefficients of these cation exchange pulps are both high as that of the commercial exchanger. Moreover, the rates of exchange for these cation exchange pulps are also considerably high.Whereas, the cation exchange pulps especially oxidized pulps are not stable in strong acidic and basic solutions and also, the capacities per unit volume are low.In conclusion, although these cation exchange pulps have the above mentioned faults, these economical exchangers may be suitable in the case of non-regenerating of ion exchangers. for the radioactive waste solutions.