Applicability Study of Co and Eu Extraction Using Solvent from Ca Rich HCl Solution

Authors

  • Maengkyo Oh Yonsei University, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1792-0535
  • Keunyoung Lee Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Decommissioning Technology Research Division, 111, Daedeok-Daero 989 Beon-Gil, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7144-9014
  • Richard I. Foster Seoul National University, Nuclear Research Institute for Future Technology and Policy, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5807-6062
  • Ik-Soo Kim Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Decommissioning Technology Research Division, 111, Daedeok-Daero 989 Beon-Gil, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2249-8933
  • Chang-Ha Lee Yonsei University, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8769-7936

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24425/amm.2023.141484

Abstract

This study was conducted to treat radioactive acidic wastewater, which contained radioactive 60Co and 152Eu. The wastewater can be generated during a decommissioning project to reduce the volume of radioactive concrete waste from nuclear facilities. With a variety of methods for separating the radioactive nuclides available, we evaluated the separation applicability of the solvent extraction method. From our results, Co and Eu could be easily extracted from the Ca rich wastewater using Cyanex301 (Co extraction (%) 99.8, Eu extraction (%) 99.6) without Ca extraction. On the other hand, Eu could be selectively separated by Cyanex272 (Eu extraction (%) 99.1) without Co and Ca extraction at pH 2~3. Therefore, the extraction method can be tailored according to the target radionuclides present in the wastewater and be selectively applied to the overall treatment process. By extracting radioactive Co and Eu from acidic wastewater to below the discharge criteria, treated wastewater could be regarded as non-radioactive industrial waste, to be economically and easily handled. Moreover, it may be possible to reuse separated Co and Eu for research and industrial applications by realizing waste valorization.

Published

2023-03-06

How to Cite

Oh, Maengkyo, et al. “Applicability Study of Co and Eu Extraction Using Solvent from Ca Rich HCl Solution”. Archives of Metallurgy and Materials, vol. 68, no. 1, Mar. 2023, doi:10.24425/amm.2023.141484.

Issue

Vol. 68 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Articles