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Development and testing of four stage chemical reactor (FSCR) for decontamination of liquid radioactive waste

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Abstract

Cutting-edge research introduces a chemical reactor for liquid radioactive waste treatment, utilizing a four-stage radiochemical separation. Biomass conversion yielded activated carbons with impressive adsorption capacities up to 1 × 104 Bq/g and proved effective for Cs removal. Standout coagulants, AlCl3·6H2O and FeSO4·7H2O, achieved an 80% decontamination factor for six radionuclides. Sulphonated DVB ion-exchange resins showed high efficiency, achieving 100% Cs decontamination at pH 4 ± 2. Integrated processes successfully decontaminated twelve radionuclides up to 99 ± 1% with substantial demineralization of waste, up to 95%, was achieved. Current reactor system is invaluable for routine and emergency scenarios for treating liquid radioactive waste with varying radionuclide compositions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Director General PINSTECH for providing necessary funding and support for the completion of this research work. Moreover, we are thankful to Head Research Reactor 1 for providing coolant during testing of the radioactive waste treatment reactor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radioactive Waste Characterization Laboratory, Predisposal Radioactive Waste Facility, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Mumtaz Khan

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muqaddus Usman, Haris Khan, Ahmad Abdullah & Mazhar iqbal Zafar

  3. Department of Chemistry, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

    Shazma Ashraf & Lubna Ghani

  4. Department of Nuclear Technology, Institute of Nuclear Science, Ege University, 35100, Bornova-Izmir, Turkey

    Sabriye Yusan

  5. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, (KACST), Nuclear Technologies Institutes, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Thaqal M. Alhuzaymi

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  1. Mumtaz Khan
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Khan, M., Usman, M., Khan, H. et al. Development and testing of four stage chemical reactor (FSCR) for decontamination of liquid radioactive waste. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 333, 2793–2811 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-024-09491-w

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