Removal of Cs-137 from an intermediate level liquid waste by using variousion-exchange media

An intermediate level liquid waste (ILLW or Category III waste) stream was treated for the removal of radioactive Cs in pilot scale experiments, using three different ion exchange media. Results indicated that the polyacrylic fibre coated with cupric ferric hexacyanoferrate (CuFeHCF-fibre composite) was the most efficient, followed by cupric hexacyanoferrate loaded ion exc hange resin (CuHCF-resin) and mixed zeolites (AR-1, 4A and 13X in the ratio 6:1:1). The mixed zeolites column and the CuFeHCF-fibre column were used i n series in order to get a high total decontamination factor (DF). Leaching studies on the CuFeHCF-fibre composite loaded with Cs-137, in demineralise d (DM) water, tap water and ground water media indicated a release of about 19.3%, 25.5% and 41.3% of Cs-137, respectively, in a period of about 8 mon ths. XPS studies with CuFeHCF-fibre composite indicated some chemical inter action between the CuFeHCF precipitate and the polyacrylic fibre. Some of t he possible disposal options for the CuFeHCF-fibre composite have also been discussed.