Cesium Absorption from Acidic Solutions Using Ammonium Molybdophosphate on a Polyacrylonitrile Support (AMP-PAN)

Recent effort at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) have included evaluation of cesium removal technologies as applied to ICPP acidic radioactive waste streams. Ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP) immobilized on a polyacrylonitrile support (AMP-PAN) has been studied as an ion exchange agent for cesium removal from acidic waste solutions. Capacities, distribution coefficients, elutability, and kinetics of cesium extraction have been evaluated. Exchange breakthrough curves using small columns have been determined from 1M HNO3 and simulated waste solutions. The theoretical capacity of AMP is 213 g Cs/Kg AMP. The average experimental capacity in batch contacts with various acidic solutions was 150 g Cs/kg AMP. The measured cesium distribution coefficients from actual waste solutions were 3287 mL/g for dissolved zirconia calcines, and 2679 mL/g for sodium-bearing waste. The cesium in the dissolved alumina calcines was analyzed for; however, the concentration was below analytical detectable limits ...