Radiation Physics and Engineering
A peer-reviewed journal published by K. N. Toosi University of Technology

Study on immobilization of the spent ion exchange resins of Tehran research reactor in borosilicate glass

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Pourya Rastgoo 1
Ali Yadollahi 2
Mohammad Samadfam 1
Hamid Sepehrian 2

1 Department of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

2 Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/rpe.2024.467201.1245
Abstract
The present study examined the vitrification of spent ion exchange (IEX) resins in a borosilicate glass matrix on the laboratory scale. For this purpose, the simulated spent IEX resin waste prepared by doping non-radioactive cobalt and cesium elements on a combination of cationic and anionic resins was employed. For glass wasteform preparation, heat-treated (at 150 °C) spent IEX resin was mixed with borosilicate glass ferrite in the range of 20-40 weight percent and then melted at 1200 °C. To evaluate the prepared glass wasteforms, their volume reduction ratio (VRR) and chemical stability were investigated. According to the obtained results, with the increase in the spent IEX resin loading, the volume reduction ratio of the final wasteform increases. However, in the samples with spent IEX resins loading higher than 30 wt.%, phase separation (white color containing insoluble sulfate) was observed on the surface of the glass. Investigations showed that glass wasteform containing 30 wt.% spent IEX resins provides the best conditions for waste immobilization. The relative volume reduction ratio of this sample was measured as 86.61%. The normalized leaching rate of cesium and cobalt from this wasteform was calculated as 7.43×10-5 and 6.93×10-5 g.m-2.day-1, respectively, using the PCT method.

Highlights

  • The vitrification process was employed for imobilization of spent ion exchange (IEX) resins.
  • The volume reduction ratio (VRR) of the prepared glass wasteforms was investigated.
  • The chemical stability of the prepared glass wasteforms were investigated using the PCT method.

Keywords

Ion Exchange Resin
Borosilicate Glass
Immobilization
Wasteform
Cesium
Cobalt
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Radiation Physics and Engineering
Volume 6, Issue 1
Winter 2025
Pages 53-57

  • Receive Date 19 September 2024
  • Revise Date 16 October 2024
  • Accept Date 06 October 2024

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