Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix, Spencer M. Steinberg, Gary Cerefice, David W. Emerson

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. During the first two years of this program we have examined the potential of Fullerene Containing Carbon compounds (FCC) developed by KRI, and natural organic matter (NOM) as sorbents for iodine released during the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work involved the development of bench-scale testing of the FCC and NOM material in a simulated process off-gas environment.

Research Objectives and Goals

• Develop bench-scale experimental set-up and procedures for simulating PUREX head-end vapor phase; Develop experimental procedures …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix: Quarterly Report August-September 2004, Spencer M. Steinberg

Separations Campaign (TRP)

During first year of the project we were able to demonstrate iodine sorption by a sphagnum peat and Ca(OH)2 mixture. We decided to explore varying the ratio of Ca(OH)2 to sphagnum on the retention of iodine in both the iodine generator experiments and the fuel rod simulator experiments.

We also constructed a device for simulating the dissolution of fuel rods. Early experiments were impacted by sorption of iodine onto various components of the sorption train. We have eliminated or minimized iodine sorption by the system components. We retested both FCC and the sphagnum using this device. In these experiments a …

Development Of A Systems Engineering Model Of The Chemical Separations Process, Yitung Chen, Sean Hsieh

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The whole chemical separation process is complex to the point that definitely requires certain level of systematic coordination. To perform smoothly and meet the target extraction rates among those processes, this research proposed a general-purpose systems engineering model.

A general purposed systems engineering model, Transmutation Research Program System Engineering Model Project (TRPSEMPro), was developed based on the above design concept. The system model includes four main parts: System Manager, Model Integration, Study Plan, and Solution Viewer. System Manager supervises all the case (problem) creation, and functionality definition. Model Integration identifies chemical extraction processes and their execution sequence. Study Plan is …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix: Quaterly Report April-June 2004, Spencer M. Steinberg

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. This proposal will develop and examine the use of Fullerene Containing Carbon (FCC) compounds as potential sorbents for iodine release from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work will also include the development of bench-scale testing capabilities at UNLV to allow the testing of the FCC material in a simulated process off-gas environment. This experimental capability will also be used to test other potential sorption materials and processes, such as natural organic matter (NOM) and other promising alternatives. …

Electrochemical Separation Of Curium And Americium, David W. Hatchett, Kenneth Czerwinski

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The objective of this project is to develop a method for the separation of Am from Cm based on electrochemical techniques. Electrochemical systems that allow the thermodynamics of actinide and lanthanide complexes to be systematically evaluated and tuned will be examined. The influence of complex formation on the ability to selectively isolate a given species electrochemically will be evaluated. Metal-ligand complex formation provides a useful derivation technique to increase solubility in solution environments that favor precipitation. In addition, the thermodynamic properties of a complex relative to the isolated species may be shifted to more suitably measurable electrochemical separation regimes. Electrochemical …

Fundamental Chemistry Of U And Pu In The Tbp-Dodecane-Nitric Acid System, Kenneth Czerwinski, Byron Bennett

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The speciation of hexavalent U and tetravalent Pu will be examined in the TBP-dodecane-nitric acid systems. This topic is chosen based on data needs for separation modeling identified by the AFCI. Emphasis will be placed on studying the influence of nitrate and acetohydroxamic acid on U and Pu speciation as well as conditions where a third phase forms in the organic phase. The organic phase will be 30% TBP in dodecane. Equal volumes of aqueous and organic phase will be used. The speciation of the actinides in the aqueous and organic phase will be determined by a number of different …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix, Spencer M. Steinberg

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. During the first two years of this program the use of Fullerene Containing Carbon (FCC) compounds and Natural Organic Matter (NOM) as potential sorbents for iodine release from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel was examined. This work also included the development of bench-scale testing capabilities at UNLV to allow the testing of the FCC and NOM materials in a simulated process off-gas environment. In the final year of the project we will complete studies of FCC and NOM …

The Electrochemical Separation Of Curium And Americium: Quaterly Report January - March 2004, David W. Hatchett, Kenneth Czerwinski

Separations Campaign (TRP)

This research report outlines the current status and progress associated with the electrochemical separation of Curium and Americium.

Data collection and analysis of the Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ redox couple in various supporting electrolytes has continued. All electrolyte systems were investigated at Pt, Au, and Glassy Carbon working electrodes. Analysis of these data was accomplished by performing appropriate background subtractions to reveal net peaks due to Ce redox behavior. Successful identification of the Ce redox couple was achieved with all electrolyte/electrode systems, although a decline in peak resolution was observed with increasing acid concentration. Optimal conditions in this experiment were …

Development, Fabrication And Study Of Fullerene-Containing Carbon Material (Fcc) For Immobilization Of Iodine: Progress Reports 1-1 And 1-2, Michael Savopulo, Boris E. Burakov

Separations Campaign (TRP)

Immobilization of highly radioactive and long-lived isotope of ¹²⁹I, which is a fission product in spent nuclear fuel, requires development of new durable host-materials. Such materials should be characterized with the following principal features:

• High loading capacity to iodine incorporation
• Chemical durability and radiation resistance in order to prevent iodine release over long time (higher than 105 years) storage under conditions of underground repository of radioactive wastes
• Possibility to use iodine-doped material as a target for iodine transmutation.

Iodine is a very volatile chemical element, and even its chemically strong compounds such as AgI and CuI are not stable …

Development, Fabrication And Study Of Fullerene-Containing Carbon Material (Fcc) For Immobilization Of Iodine: Progress Report 1-3, Michael Savopulo, Boris E. Burakov

Separations Campaign (TRP)

During previous reporting periods we studied properties of iodine doped FCC in comparison with activated carbon. An additional goal was to investigate the possibility to convert iodine doped FCC and activated carbon into ceramic-like material avoiding iodine loss. In order to obtain ceramic based on C_xN_y with fullerene structure we decided to carry out gamma irradiation of iodine doped samples in nitrogen atmosphere (0.7 atm. N₂). It was found that iodine doping and irradiation caused principal changes in composition of FCC such as substituting of fullerene C₆₀ and graphite (both formed by benzene-like carbon …

Fundamental Chemistry Of U And Pu In The Tbp-Dodecane-Nitric Acid System: Quaterly Report, Kenneth Czerwinski, Byron Bennett

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The speciation of hexavalent U and tetravalent Pu will be examined in the TBP-dodecane- nitric acid systems. This topic is chosen based on data needs for separation modeling identified by the AFCI. Emphasis will be placed on studying the influence of nitrate and acetohydroxamic acid on U and Pu speciation as well as conditions where a third phase forms in the organic phase. The organic phase will be 30 % TBP in dodecane. Equal volumes of aqueous and organic phase will be used. The speciation of the actinides in the aqueous and organic phase will be determined by a number …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix: Quaterly Report September-December 2003, Spencer M. Steinberg

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. This proposal will develop and examine the use of Fullerene Containing Carbon (FCC) compounds as potential sorbents for iodine release from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work will also include the development of bench-scale testing capabilities at UNLV to allow the testing of the FCC material in a simulated process off-gas environment. This experimental capability will also be used to test other potential sorption materials and processes, such as natural organic matter (NOM) and other promising alternatives. …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix, Spencer M. Steinberg, David W. Emerson, Gary Cerefice

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. During the first year of this program we have examined the potential of Fullerene Containing Carbon compounds (FCC) developed by KRI, and natural organic matter (NOM) as sorbents for iodine released during the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work involved the development of bench-scale testing of the FCC and NOM material in a simulated process off-gas environment.

During the first two quarters of this program we explored various analytical methods available for measurement of iodine, iodide, and iodate. …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix: Quarterly Report April-June 2003, Spencer M. Steinberg

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. This proposal will develop and examine the use of Fullerene Containing Carbon (FCC) compounds as potential sorbents for iodine release from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work will also include the development of bench-scale testing capabilities at UNLV to allow the testing of the FCC material in a simulated process off-gas environment. This experimental capability will also be used to test other potential sorption materials and processes, such as natural organic matter (NOM) and other promising alternatives. …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix, Spencer M. Steinberg

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. This proposal will develop and examine the use of Fullerene Containing Carbon (FCC) compounds as potential sorbents for iodine release from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work will also include the development of bench-scale testing capabilities at UNLV to allow the testing of the FCC material in a simulated process off-gas environment. This experimental capability will also be used to test other potential sorbtion materials and processes, such as natural organic matter (NOM) and other promising alternatives. …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix: Quarterly Report January-March 2003, Spencer M. Steinberg

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. This proposal will develop and examine the use of Fullerene Containing Carbon (FCC) compounds as potential sorbents for iodine release from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work will also include the development of bench-scale testing capabilities at UNLV to allow the testing of the FCC material in a simulated process off-gas environment. This experimental capability will also be used to test other potential sorption materials and processes, such as natural organic matter (NOM) and other promising alternatives. …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix: Quarterly Report September-December 2002, Spencer M. Steinberg

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. This proposal will develop and examine the use of Fullerene Containing Carbon (FCC) compounds as potential sorbents for iodine release from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work will also include the development of bench-scale testing capabilities at UNLV to allow the testing of the FCC material in a simulated process off-gas environment. This experimental capability will also be used to test other potential sorbtion materials and processes, such as natural organic matter (NOM) and other promising alternatives. …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix, Spencer M. Steinberg

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. This proposal will develop and examine the use of Fullerene Containing Carbon (FCC) compounds as potential sorbents for iodine release from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work will also include the development of bench-scale testing capabilities at UNLV to allow the testing of the FCC material in a simulated process off-gas environment. This experimental capability will also be used to test other potential sorbtion materials and processes, such as natural organic matter (NOM) and other promising alternatives. …