1
|
Agarwal R, Gamare JS, Nandi C, Phatak R, Sharma MK, Jayachandran K, Kaity S. A "Two-Step" Electrochemical Approach for Recovery of Plutonium and Uranium from Aqueous Acidic Waste Solutions. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:2090-2097. [PMID: 38235667 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c03926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Chemical quality control of nuclear fuel, particularly the determination of Pu and U contents by chemical methods, results in analytical acidic aqueous waste solutions from which Pu and U must be recovered efficiently for the remediation of radioactive wastes. Reported methods involve several complicated steps requiring addition of chemical oxidants/reductants for valence adjustments and generation of secondary wastes, thereby making the recovery process cumbersome. Herein, we report a novel two-step electrochemical approach for Pu and U recovery from acidic aqueous waste solutions containing different metallic impurities (Fe, Cr, Mn, Cd, Al, Ni, Co, Zn, and Mg) by bulk electrolysis using a Pt gauze electrode. Pu and U are recovered from these waste solutions in a two-step process: (i) bulk electrolysis of the mixed solution at a constant potential of 0.1 V vs Ag/AgCl/3 M KCl that results in the reduction of PuO22+ to Pu3+ followed by the precipitation of Pu3+ as K2(K0.5Pu0.5)(SO4)2, which is then filtered and separated and (ii) the filtrate solution is again subjected to bulk electrolysis at a constant potential of -0.35 V vs Ag/AgCl/3 M KCl resulting in the reduction of UO22+ to U4+. The U4+ is then precipitated as K2(K0.67U0.33)(SO4)2, which is filtered and separated, leading to a Pu- and U-free aqueous acidic waste solutions. Biamperometry shows that 97.8% and 99.1% recovery of Pu and U, respectively, is possible, and emission spectrometry confirms the purity of K2(K0.5Pu0.5)(SO4)2 and K2(K0.67U0.33)(SO4)2. Because of its operational simplicity, potential for remote handling, and excellent extraction efficiency, the present methodology can easily replace traditional methods for the recovery of Pu and U from acidic aqueous waste solutions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Agarwal
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400 094, India
- Fuel Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India
| | - Jayashree S Gamare
- Fuel Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India
| | - Chiranjit Nandi
- Radiometallurgy Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Rohan Phatak
- Fuel Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India
| | - Manoj K Sharma
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400 094, India
- Fuel Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India
| | - Kavitha Jayachandran
- Fuel Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India
| | - Santu Kaity
- Radiometallurgy Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xiao B, Schlenz H, Bosbach D, Suleimanov EV, Alekseev EV. The structural effects of alkaline- and rare-earth element incorporation into thorium molybdates. CrystEngComm 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ce02040a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
3
|
Xiao B, Gesing TM, Kegler P, Modolo G, Bosbach D, Schlenz H, Suleimanov EV, Alekseev EV. High-Temperature Phase Transitions, Spectroscopic Properties, and Dimensionality Reduction in Rubidium Thorium Molybdate Family. Inorg Chem 2014; 53:3088-98. [DOI: 10.1021/ic403003f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xiao
- Institute for Energy
and Climate Research (IEK-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany
- Institut
für Kristallographie, RWTH Aachen University, 52066 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thorsten M. Gesing
- Chemische Kristallographie
fester Stoffe, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Universität Bremen, Leobener Straße, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Philip Kegler
- Institute for Energy
and Climate Research (IEK-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Giuseppe Modolo
- Institute for Energy
and Climate Research (IEK-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Dirk Bosbach
- Institute for Energy
and Climate Research (IEK-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Hartmut Schlenz
- Institute for Energy
and Climate Research (IEK-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Evgeny V. Suleimanov
- Department of Chemistry, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Evgeny V. Alekseev
- Institute for Energy
and Climate Research (IEK-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany
- Institut
für Kristallographie, RWTH Aachen University, 52066 Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bugaris DE, zur Loye HC. Auf der Suche nach neuen Materialien: Kristallzucht von quaternären und höherwertigen Oxiden in Flussmitteln. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201102676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
5
|
Bugaris DE, zur Loye HC. Auf der Suche nach neuen Materialien: Kristallzucht von quaternären und höherwertigen Oxiden in Flussmitteln. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201102676 and doi:10.1002/anie.201102676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
6
|
Materials Discovery by Flux Crystal Growth: Quaternary and Higher Order Oxides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2012; 51:3780-811. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201102676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 278] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
|