Directly vitrifiable nanosize hydroxyapatite for removal of hazardous substances from aqueous wastes
Department
Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science
Major
Nuclear Engineering
Research Advisor
Kim, Cheol-Woon, 1966-
Day, D. E.
Advisor's Department
Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science
Second Advisor's Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Funding Source
Innovations in Nuclear Infrastructure and Education Grant of the United States Department of Energy (DE-FG07-09-ID14531)
Abstract
The safe disposal of aqueous waste solutions including nuclear waste streams is of concern since any radionuclides (such as Cs, Sr, Tc, U, Pu, and Am), hazardous or toxic metals (such as Cr, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As) that may be present can easily escape into the environment, causing a serious problem to human health. High surface area ( > 150 m2/g) hydroxyapatite (HA) particles were prepared by a unique and innovative method that consists of reacting (24 hours at 37°C) particles (45-75 µm) of a calcium borate glass with an aqueous solution containing phosphate ions. The effectiveness of this HA in removing the radionuclides and the hazardous metals from contaminated water was determined by chemically analyzing the feed and effluent solutions using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The ion removal effectiveness was not affected by the filtration methods, batch or column, and very high (e.g., Kd = 2 x 106 mL/g for U) ion removal was achieved for the ions tested. The “spent (used)” HA was successfully vitrified into a calcium iron phosphate glass by adding small amounts of Fe2O3 and P2O5 to the “spent” HA and melting the mixture at 1150°C for 2 hours. The chemical durability of the calcium iron phosphate glasses in deionized water at 90°C for 7 days was superior to that of the Environmental Assessment glass developed at the Defense Waste Processing Facility, Savannah River for vitrifying nuclear waste.
Biography
Alicia is a junior attending the University of Missouri--Rolla majoring in nuclear engineering. She is actively involved in Phi Sigma Rho and is an alumna of the St. Pat’s Committee.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Engineering poster session, Second place
Presentation Date
12 Apr 2006, 1:00 pm
Directly vitrifiable nanosize hydroxyapatite for removal of hazardous substances from aqueous wastes
The safe disposal of aqueous waste solutions including nuclear waste streams is of concern since any radionuclides (such as Cs, Sr, Tc, U, Pu, and Am), hazardous or toxic metals (such as Cr, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As) that may be present can easily escape into the environment, causing a serious problem to human health. High surface area ( > 150 m2/g) hydroxyapatite (HA) particles were prepared by a unique and innovative method that consists of reacting (24 hours at 37°C) particles (45-75 µm) of a calcium borate glass with an aqueous solution containing phosphate ions. The effectiveness of this HA in removing the radionuclides and the hazardous metals from contaminated water was determined by chemically analyzing the feed and effluent solutions using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The ion removal effectiveness was not affected by the filtration methods, batch or column, and very high (e.g., Kd = 2 x 106 mL/g for U) ion removal was achieved for the ions tested. The “spent (used)” HA was successfully vitrified into a calcium iron phosphate glass by adding small amounts of Fe2O3 and P2O5 to the “spent” HA and melting the mixture at 1150°C for 2 hours. The chemical durability of the calcium iron phosphate glasses in deionized water at 90°C for 7 days was superior to that of the Environmental Assessment glass developed at the Defense Waste Processing Facility, Savannah River for vitrifying nuclear waste.
Comments
Joint project with Leia Ponder and Stephanie Fesenmeyer