Sorption of Nuclear Waste Components by Layered Hydrazinium Titanate: a Straightforward Route to Durable Ceramic Forms

Abstract

ABSTRACTLayered hydrazinium titanate LHT-9, (N2H5)1/2Ti1.87O4 is a new nanohybrid material related to lepidocrocite-type titanates. Unique combination of ion exchange, reductive properties, surface activity due to Brønsted acid sites and occurrence of surface titanyl groups allows exploring LHT-9 for simultaneous uptake of almost all components of liquid nuclear wastes. LHT-9 irreversibly removes technetium, molybdenum, palladium and selenium from their aqueous solutions by specific mechanism of reductive adsorption. For removal of cesium, strontium, transition elements, actinides and lanthanides LHT-9 provides mechanisms of ion exchange and surface complexation. Products of adsorption are nanocrystalline and homogeneous powders loaded with 5 to 15 wt. % of radionuclides and non-radioactive elements. LHT-9 can be applied as ready-to-use precursor for one-step synthesis of durable titanate ceramic waste forms similar to SYNROC. An essential advantage of LHT-9 in comparison with other titanate sorbents (monosodium titanate and peroxo-titanate materials) is the absence of Na in its composition that permits arbitrary tailoring of sorbent properties by simple pre-treatment with the desired elements. Results on sorption of americium, cesium, strontium and lanthanides by LHT-9 are discussed.