J. Satyanarayana2, A. Bilewicz1, J. Narbutt1
1 Department of Radiochemistry, Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, 16 Dorodna Str., 03-195 Warsaw, Poland,
2 on leave from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India. Present address: Department of Chemistry, Ghandi Institute of Technology and Management, Rushikonda, Visakhapatnam, India
A method was investigated for removal and immobilisation of hazardous long-lived radionuclides from liquid radioactive wastes containing macroamounts of other metal ions and complexing agents. Selective inorganic ion exchangers: a-crystalline polyantimonic acid (CAA) and metal antimonates were synthesized and studied as adsorbents for di- and trivalent ions: Sr2+ and Eu3+ (a model for actinides), and also monovalent Cs+. High decontamination factors for the two former ions have been attained with CAA. The effect of the concentration of the waste components on the radionuclide sorption was studied. Calcium ions strongly reduce sorption of Sr2+, and EDTA in neutral solution - that of Eu3+, while sodium ions, citrates and oxalates have a little effect. Radiocaesium must be removed using another selective ion exchanger.