Optimization for removal of ruthenium from nitric acid solution by volatilizing with electrochemical oxidation

Abstract

Ruthenium is a major fission product element among the platinum group elements (PGEs) in high-level liquid waste (HLLW). Ru tetra-oxide, RuO 4, has high vapor pressure, which is high enough to be run off from its solution even at room temperature. Electrochemical oxidation method, to oxidize nitrosyl ruthenium to the tetra-oxide and then to remove ruthenium from liquid phase to gas phase, was studied to separate Ru from the HLLW. The advantage of this method requires neither additional reagents nor adjustment its valency before the oxidation and disadvantage is necessity of long time for oxidation. In order to improve oxidation rate, we carried out the experiments to clarify the effects following fundamental conditions to the electrochemical oxidation, which are (a) electrolyte temperature, (b) presence of promoter elements, (c) evaporation or reflux of condensed phase, and (d) using or not using of diaphragm at counter electrode. We found the fast oxidation conditions as follows: (1) higher temperature; 95°C, (2) Ce coexistence; 3000 ppm; and (3) usage of a diaphragm for counter electrode. However, evaporation or reflux conditions did not directly affect the electrochemical oxidation efficiency. © 2012 Atomic Energy Society of Japan. All rights reserved.