This study describes the use of the emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) technique to recover thorium (Th(IV)) from an aqueous nitrate solution. The components of the ELM were kerosene as a diluent, sorbitan monooleate (span 80) as a surfactant, bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) as an extractant, and HSO solution as a stripping reagent. Th(IV) was more successfully extracted and separated under the following favorable conditions: Cyanex272 concentration of 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGranular activated carbon has been modified by ammonium persulfate as a new adsorbent for Cr(VI) adsorption from aqueous solutions. The adsorbent was characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm data and infrared spectroscopy. The impact of different factors, such as the initial pH level of the solution, time, temperature, ionic strength, and initial concentration of the Cr(VI) ion, on the adsorption efficiencies of the adsorbent has been studied by batch experiments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe immobilization of high-level nuclear waste (HLW) in glass waste matrices provides the key safety function of slowing down radionuclide emissions from an underground disposal site. This study examines the leaching behavior of two major elements, Na and Si, in HLW borosilicate glass simulated from waste of a 1000 MWe class pressurized water reactor (PWR) using response surface methodology and Box-Behnken Design. The design of the experiment was carried out considering three independent variables: the pH of the solution, the contact time, and the leaching temperature, leading to 17 leaching runs performed using the static product consistency test (PCT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn order to determine the activity of C137s in soil resulting from nuclear accidents or fallouts, the best choice is to use HPGe detectors due to their best energy resolutions. In this regard, in order to enhance the detection efficiency, the Marinelli beakers have been used to increase the radiation interaction with the sensitive volume of the detector. In previous works, to optimize the dimension of Marinelli beakers, the assumption was that the emission rate of the source is homogeneous in beaker volume.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA computational code, based on the genetic algorithm and MCNPX version 2.6 code was developed and used to investigate the effects of some important parameters of HPGe detector (such as Al cap thickness, dead-layer thickness and Ge hole size) on optimum dimensions of marinelli beaker. In addition, the effects of detector material on optimal beaker dimensions were also investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe uptake of plutonium(VI) and uranium(VI) by lichen biomass was studied in the foliose lichen Parmotrema tinctorum to elucidate the migration behavior of Pu and U in the terrestrial environment. Pu and U uptake by P. tinctorum averaged 0.
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