Removal of radionuclides from a HCl steel decontamination stream using chelating ion exchange resins - Initial studies

Extraction behaviours of Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), U(VI), Th(IV) and Zn(II) mixed metal solutions were examined in chloride media using chelating ion exchange resins Purolite S930+, Purolite S950, Purolite S957 and Dowex M4195 to understand mechanisms of extraction and to identify a potential steel decontamination process to reduce intermediate-level waste volume from nuclear reactor decommissioning. Effects of acidity and ionic strength were considered in batch extraction tests. Breakthrough behaviours were modelled with the Dose-Response model to give an indication to maximum loading capacities. A two-stage process for radioactive steel decontamination is proposed.