Purification of water-salt solutions by Ti(IV) and Zr(IV) phosphates

Abstract

The sorption of γ- and β-emitting radionuclides from processed solutions of liquid wastes with a salt background, using powdered titanium and zirconium phosphates with the composition TiO(OH)2(1–x)(HPO4) x ·nH2O, where x = 0.23–1, and Zr(HPO4)2·nH2O, was studied. The decontamination process was most efficient on titanyl hydrophosphate in the range pH = 4–6. It was found that stagewise sorption of radionuclides under static conditions and with flow of solution and sorbent is best. It was found that for decontamination of liquid wastes an amorphous sorbent based on titanium (IV) hydroxide-phosphate matrix makes it possible to remove radionuclides and simultaneously petroleum products from the processed solutions.