Development of test methods for assessing microbial influenced degradation of cement-solidified radioactive and industrial waste

This paper reports on the development of accelerated tests for evaluating microbial influenced degradation (MID) of cement-solidified wastes. An existing U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission accelerated test cannot distinguish between degradation caused by biogenic acid produced under optimal conditions in a bioreactor and that caused by active biofilms formed on the waste materials. Nutrient limitations were also observed that would significantly limit the activity of any developing biofilm. Results from this work have shown that it is possible to modify this test to remove nutrient limitations and enable the effects of MID resulting from active biofilms to be examined. Aggressive MID microorganisms can form a biofilm on the surface of cement-solidified waste so that when nutrients are provided the microbes remain active. Elemental mass loss data from exposed solidified waste forms indicate the continued development and growth of microbes on the surface of samples.     

Treatment of tissue paper containing radioactive waste and electrochemical recovery of valuables using ionic liquids

Dissolution of tissue paper waste containing valuable contaminants such as uranium and palladium in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (bmimCl) has been studied. Dissolution of 5-7 wt.% tissue paper in bmimCl is complete within 60 min at 373 K and the time required for dissolution increases with increase of loading. It is difficult to dissolve more than 10 wt.% tissue paper in bmimCl and the limiting solubility of tissue paper is 15-17 wt.% at 373 K. Uranium(VI) and Pd(II) in chloride/nitrate form dissolve in bmimCl along with tissue paper. The electrochemical behaviour of uranium(VI) and palladium(II) in the resultant solution in the presence and absence of a co-solvent, DMSO, has been investigated by transient voltammetric techniques at glassy carbon working electrode and the diffusion coefficients have been determined. Electrolysis of a solution of uranium(VI) and palladium(II) loaded tissue paper in bmimCl results in deposition of uranium oxide (UO₂) and metallic palladium, respectively, which were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The study established the possibility of dissolving tissue paper and other cellulose based materials containing soluble uranium(VI) and Pd(II) compounds in bmimCl, and their recovery from the resultant solution. Cellulose pulp can be regenerated by adding surplus water after the recovery of valuables and the ionic liquid, bmimCl, can be regenerated for further use by vacuum distillation of DMSO and water.     

Adsorption behavior and radiation effects of a silica-based (Calix(4)+Dodecanol)/SiO2-P adsorbent for selective separation of Cs(I) from high level liquid waste

A macroporous silica-based (Calix[4]+Dodecanol)/SiO₂-P absorbent for separation of Cs(I) from HNO₃ solution was prepared by impregnating the 1,3-[(2,4-Diethylheptylethoxy)oxy]-2,4-crown-6-calix[4]arene and its molecule modifier 1-dodecanol into a macroporous silica/polymer composite support. To establish its application into partitioning of Cs(I) from High Level Liquid Waste (HLLW), the adsorption properties and radiation effects on the adsorbent were investigated. The adsorbent showed a relatively large distribution coefficient of Cs(I) and fast equilibrium time in simulated HLLW. Additionally, the adsorbent under the gamma-ray field was found to be able to selectively adsorb Cs(I) with similar behavior to the adsorption without irradiation up to at least 170 kGy.     

Homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction using perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and calcium and its application to the separation and recovery of vitamin B12

A new phase separation phenomenon was observed in which the perfluorooctanesulfonate ion (PFOS⁻) and calcium ion form an ion‐pair associator and the sedimented liquid phase occurs from the homogeneous aqueous solution. This phenomenon was observed in the neutral pH region at room temperature (25 °C). The optimum concentration conditions for the reagents were [PFOS⁻]_T = 7 × 10⁻³ mol dm^‐3 and [Ca²⁺]_T = 1.1 mol dm^‐3. When these findings were applied to the homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction of vitamin B₁₂, the extraction percentage (E) was 83% and the concentration ratio (ie V_a/V_s, where V_a is the volume of the aqueous phase and V_s is the volume of the sedimented liquid phase) was a maximum of 149. The recovery of vitamin B₁₂ was achieved by adding the propanol–acetone (20 : 80 v/v%) mixed solvent to the sedimented liquid phase; the vitamin B₁₂ precipitated and was filtered. Both the PFOS⁻ and Ca²⁺ were removed by dissolution in the mixed solvent. The recovery percentage of vitamin B₁₂ was 78%. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry