Removal of radionuclides from a HCl steel decontamination stream using chelating ion exchange resins – initial studies

Extraction behaviours of Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), U(VI), Th(IV) and Zn(II) mixed metal solutions were examined in chloride media using chelating ion exchange resins Purolite S930+, Purolite S950, Purolite S957 and Dowex M4195 to understand mechanisms of extraction and to identify a potential steel decontamination process to reduce intermediate-level waste volume from nuclear reactor decommissioning. Effects of acidity and ionic strength were considered in batch extraction tests. Breakthrough behaviours were modelled with the DoseResponse model to give an indication to maximum loading capacities. A twostage process for radioactive steel decontamination is proposed.