Zeolite - Salt Occlusion: A Potential Route for the Immobilisation of Iodine-129?

Abstract

ABSTRACTReactions of zeolite Na-A with AgI, and the sodium, copper and lead forms of zeolites A, LTA, X and Y with NaI, have been examined as possible starting routes to the long term immobilisation of iodine-129. Heating the salts in air, at 500°C, with the sodium forms of the zeolites leads to the formation of occlusion products, where the iodide salt migrates into the zeolite pores. Detailed studies of the Na-A / 5AgI complex indicate it has a uniform distribution of Na, Si, Al, Ag and I, and is thermally stable to ca. 750°C, where there is a substantial weight loss as iodine is released. In situ powder X-ray diffraction studies have been used to monitor the occlusion reaction at 400°C, and show that the occlusion product decomposes to produce a single crystalline phase at 800°C prior to further decomposition at 850°C to a mixture of nepheline and elemental silver.