Adsorption of iodine on hydrogen‐reduced silver‐exchanged mordenite: Experiments and modeling

The adsorption process of iodine, a major volatile radionuclide in the off‐gas streams of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing, on hydrogen‐reduced silver‐exchanged mordenite (Ag⁰Z) was studied at the micro‐scale. The gas‐solid mass transfer and reaction involved in the adsorption process were investigated and evaluated with appropriate models. Optimal conditions for reducing the silver‐exchanged mordenite (AgZ) in a hydrogen stream were determined. Kinetic and equilibrium data of iodine adsorption on Ag⁰Z were obtained by performing single‐layer adsorption experiments with experimental systems of high precision at 373–473 K over various iodine concentrations. Results indicate approximately 91% to 97% of the iodine adsorption was through the silver‐iodine reaction. The effect of temperature on the iodine loading capacity of Ag⁰Z was discussed. The Shrinking Core model describes the data well, and the primary rate controlling mechanisms were macro‐pore diffusion and silver‐iodine reaction. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 1024–1035, 2017