Abstract
ABSTRACT Indian nuclear energy program adopts the closed fuel cycle, which involves reprocessing of the spent fuel and offers an option for the recovery of valuables from radioactive waste. Some of the useful isotopes present in radioactive wastes, of societal and industrial applications, are 137Cs, 90Sr, Platinum Groups Metals (PGMs: Pd, Rh, and Ru), 238Pu, 241Am, etc. Among PGMs, Ru is used in electrical, electrochemical industries and radioactive isotope of Ru is being applied for the treatment of eye cancer. In the present work, we are focusing on the pre-concentration of Ru from aqueous media by sorption method. Sorption studies were carried out using inactive Ru as well as its radiotracers. EDXRF, γ-ray spectrometry and spectrophotometry were used as the tools for monitoring the sorption processes. For preliminary studies, polyaniline and manganese dioxide were used as sorbents. The sorption was found to be better using polyaniline. For the ease of separation process, composite polymers of aniline with tetraethoxysilane were synthesized and used. The composites were characterized using SEM-EDS, FTIR and elemental analysis techniques. Sorption studies with and without presence of Zr were done with the aim of separation of radioactive Ru from irradiated Zr alloy and recovery of Ru.
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