Uptake of Ruthenium Bearing Waste by Co-Precipitation using Lead Sulfide as Scavenger

Abstract

During the fission of Uranium for generating electricity, fission products are produced. Ru-106 is one among them. In the decontamination of nuclear components using decontaminating agents like EDTA, NDA, oxalic acid etc, Ruthenium gets complexed and the waste generated as liquid contains Ru-106 in the complex state. It is necessary to free Ru-106 from the complex by oxidation of the complex. This will generate Ruthenium effluent with Ru-106 in the free state amenable for further treatment. An attempt has been made to co precipitate Ruthenium along with lead sulphide. The optimum pH, dosing of chemicals needed for in situ precipitation of lead sulphide were estimated in the batch study. Column studies using lead sulphide on polyurethane foam as column material were carried out for the treatment of Ruthenium bearing effluent. The optimum flow rate for maximum removal of Ruthenium was found to be 20 BV/h. Under optimized condition the max removal of Ruthenium was found to be 84% in the batch study, and 80% in the column study.