Separation anion and cation exchange resins using fluidization and adjusted NaOH solution density methods

Abstract

The separation of anion and cation exchange resins has two advantages: (1) simplifying further treatment such as wet oxidation process, and (2) reducing further shielding, storage and disposal costs of radioactive wastes. In this paper two methods including the resin bead fluidization with fluid in a column and immersion into a solution with proper density to separate the resins were investigated. When the up-flowrate was operated between 40 and 80 cm/min, approximately 80% of anion exchange resin was retrieved and the immersion method using a 16–20 wt% of NaOH solution resulted in the anion and cation exchange resins being easily separated although with the most of Cs and partial of Co and Sr ions/radionuclides on the resins exchanged by Na from the solution. After separation the anion exchange resin from radioactive spent resins retrieved from the decommissioning activities in Taiwan Research Reactor, the volume of radioactive wastes with higher radiation and long half-life radionuclides could be reduced.