Removal of radioactive cesium from nuclear waste solutions with the transition metal hexacyanoferrate ion exchanger CsTreat

A transition metal hexacyanoferrate product CsTreat has been utilized at in dustrial scale for radioactive cesium separation at several nuclear power p lants (NPPs) in several countries. A granular hexacyanoferrate ion exchange r has been used in packed-bed column mode operations for the removal of ces ium from a variety of wastewater types. CsTreat beds have successfully puri fied both high-salt evaporator concentrates and dilute floor drain waters a t NPPs in Finland and the United Stares. Furthermore, medium-active reproce ssing solutions, containing high concentrations of sodium nitrate, have bee n decontaminated by a CsTreat bed at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Insti tute. These solutions are described as are other industrial applications of this ion exchange material, which, of all the commercial materials, has be en shown to be the most selective exchanger for cesium. In addition, some p rospective fields of hexacyanoferrate utilization, such as the use of CsTre at powder in a precoat filtration system, are discussed.