Development of Bismuth-Mordenite Adsorbents for Iodine Capture from Off-Gas Streams

Abstract

The search for efficient, cheap, and robust sorbent materials which can effectively remove iodine compounds from off-gas streams in used nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities is still challenging. Herein, we report the development of bismuth-doped mordenite zeolite with different loadings for removal of iodine-129 (129I) from nuclear waste off-gas streams. Of the materials investigated, bismuth-mordenite with 5 wt% bismuth content (Bi5@Mordenite) exhibited the highest capture capacity with an iodine uptake capacity up to 538 mg/g after exposure to iodine for 6 h at 200 °C, which was ~2.5 times higher than that of the bare mordenite with relatively fast kinetics. Interestingly, the bismuth-doped mordenite sample exhibited higher surface area and porosity than those of the bare zeolite as a result of mordenite dealumination during bismuth incorporation. Moreover, the leach tests were carried out to determine the degree of iodine leaching from the iodine-loaded Bi5@Mordenite upon coming into contact with DI water and the results revealed a maximum iodine amount of 36% that was released from the adsorbent after 24 h exposure, highlighting the necessity of transforming the iodine-loaded adsorbent into a suitable waste form for permanent geological disposal. Overall, the high uptake capacity and fast uptake rate of iodine reveal the potential utility of bismuth-based zeolites as iodine capture materials when consolidated into a waste form for long-term decay storage.

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Research Center/Lab(s)

Center for Research in Energy and Environment (CREE)

Keywords and Phrases

Bismuth; Capture; Iodine; Off-Gas Stream; Zeolite

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1385-8947

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jul 2020

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