Uranium separation from a simulant fuel debris solution using a benzimidazole-type anion exchange resin

Abstract

Ion exchange is one of the most useful separation methods. Certain ion exchange resins have been developed for use in reprocessing technology. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the U selectivity of a benzimidazole-type anion exchange resin and its potential for the separation of U from a solution of simulant fuel debris in HCl. The selectivity of the benzimidazole-type anion exchange resin for adsorption of the major elements present in fuel debris in HCl solution (such as in debris from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant) was analyzed, and the tendencies were discussed from the viewpoint of complexation. Moreover, chromatographic separation of U from the other elements was evaluated using the resin. The results indicate that this type of resin has high U separation selectivity. Consequently, the authors developed a novel strategy involving the use of this resin for U separation in conjunction with chlorination of hardly soluble materials by using atmospheric-pressure nonthermal plasma. This strategy is also proposed to be applicable for stabilizing waste forms and for nuclear fuel material accounting, such as for debris from the Fukushima nuclear power plant and other complex hardly soluble nuclear materials.