METHOD FOR DECONTAMINATING SOLUTIONS FROM NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: chemical technology; recovery of deactivated and decontaminated radioactive industrial wastes.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method that can be used for deactivating and decontaminating industrial radioactive wastes incorporating Tb-232 and their daughter decay products (Ra-228, Ra-224), as well as rare-earth elements, Fe, Cr, Mn, Sl, Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, Ca, Mg, Na, K, and the like includes dissolution of wastes, treatment of solutions or pulps with barium chloride, sulfuric acid, and lime milk, and separation of sediment from solution. Lime milk treatment is conducted to pH = 9 - 10 in the amount of 120-150% of total content of metal oxyhydrates stoichiometrically required for precipitation, pulp is filtered, and barium chloride in the amount of 0.4 - 1.8 kg of BaCl₂ per 1 kg of CaCl₂ contained in source solution or in pulp, as well as pre-diluted sulfuric acid spent 5 - 20 times in chlorine compressors in the amount of 0.5 - 2.5 kg of H₂SO₄ per 1 kg of BaCl₂ are introduced in filtrate. Alternately introduced in sulfate pulp formed in the process are lime milk to pH = 11 - 12, then acid chloride wash effluents from equipment and industrial flats at pulp-to-effluents ratio of 1 : (2 - 3) to pH = 6.5 - 8.5, and pulp obtained is filtered. Decontaminated solution is discharged to sewerage system and sediment of barium and calcium sulfates and iron oxysulfate are mixed up with oxyhydrate sediment formed in source pulp neutralization process; then 35 - 45 mass percent of inert filler, 10 - 20 mass percent of magnesium oxide, and 15 -m 25 mass percent of magnesium chloride are introduced in pasty mixture formed in the process while continuously stirring ingredients. Compound obtained is subjected to heat treatment at temperature of 80 - 120 ^oC and compressed by applying pressure of 60 to 80 at.

EFFECT: reduced radioactivity of filtrates upon separation of radioactive cakes due to enhanced coprecipitation of natural radionuclides.

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