Membrane treatment of liquid wastes from radiological decontamination operations

Abstract

The paper focuses on the evaluation of membrane filtration for the treatment of liquid radioactive streams generated in area decontamination operations. In this work, semi-permeable membranes were demonstrated to be effective reducing the volume of wastewater containing cesium and cobalt by two orders of a magnitude. The efficiency of membrane separation was enhanced by employing additives that enlarged the size of target radionuclide species and improved their rejection by the membranes. This was achieved by chelation with synthetic water-soluble polymers and by adsorption on micro particles of adsorbent coupled with micelle formation. The effect of wastewater composition and that of the radionuclide-binding additives on the volume reduction was investigated. Membrane treatment is expected to help simplify further processing and decrease disposal costs.

Influence of additives of amphiphilic block copolymers on the porosity of hollow ultrafiltration membranes based on polyethersulfone

“…Polysulfone (PSU) based on 4,4'-dioxydiphenyl-2,2-propane (bisphenol A) and 4,4'dichlorodiphenylsulfone and polyethersulfone (PES) based on 4,4'-dioxydiphenylsulfone (bisphenol S) and 4,4 '-dichlorodiphenylsulfone are structural thermoplastics with high heat resistance and mechanical properties [1][2][3][4][5]. At the same time, they are the most versatile and popular polymers for creating continuous (diffusion) gas separation and porous ultrafiltration membranes [6][7][8]. Diffusion membranes are used to implement such membrane processes as dialysis, electrodialysis, piezodialysis, pervaporation, and separation of gas mixtures [9,10].…”