# US 10,480,045 B2 · Selective regeneration of isotope-specific media resins in systems for separation of radioactive isotopes from liquid waste materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,045 B2 - Document ID: US10480045B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/152,432 - Filed: 2016-05-11 - Published: 2016-10-06 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-26 - Assignees: Kurion, Inc. - Applicants: Kurion, Inc. - Inventors: Mark S. Denton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480045B2 ## CPC - C22B 3/42: by ion-exchange extraction - B01D 39/1623: {of synthetic origin} - B01D 59/30: by ion exchange - B01J 39/04: Processes using organic exchangers - B01J 39/18: Macromolecular compounds (B01J39/17 takes precedence) - B01J 49/60: Cleaning or rinsing ion-exchange beds - C02F 1/42: by ion-exchange (ion-exchange in general B01J) - C22B 7/006: {Wet processes} - C22B 23/0461: {by chemical methods} - C22B 26/10: Obtaining alkali metals - C22B 26/20: Obtaining alkaline earth metals or magnesium - G21F 9/007: {Recovery of isotopes from radioactive waste, e.g. fission products (separating different isotopes of the same chemical element B01D59/00)} - G21F 9/04: Treating liquids - B01D 2259/40083: Regeneration of adsorbents in processes other than pressure or temperature swing adsorption - C02F 2101/006: {Radioactive compounds} - C02F 2103/34: from industrial activities not provided for in groups C02F2103/12 - C02F2103/32 - G21F 9/305: {Glass or glass like matrix (C03B5/005 takes precedence; compositional aspects C03C)} - C22B: PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS (electrolytic C25); PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02) ## Abstract Processes, systems, and methods for selectively regenerating an ion exchange resin generally comprises washing the ion exchange resin with an elution agent that encourages only selected contaminants, and especially selected radioactive isotopes, to disengage or decouple from the resin and enter solution in the elution agent, which thereafter is identified as the elution agent solution. The elution agent solution is then passed through a column of isotope-specific media (ISM). When the selected radioactive isotopes within the elution agent solution come into contact with the constituent media isotopes of the ISM, the selected radioactive isotopes are retained on the reactive surface areas of the ISM or within the interstitial spaces of the porous structures of the constituent media isotopes of the ISM. In some embodiments, the constituent media isotopes of the ISM are embedded, impregnated, or coated with the specific radioactive isotope that the particular ISM are adapted to separate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of treating radioactive waste, comprising: obtaining an ion exchange media, including one or more radioactive isotopes retained therein; washing the ion exchange media with a selective regenerant agent to produce a wash solution comprising at least one radioactive isotope of the one or more radioactive isotopes; mixing the wash solution comprising the at least one radioactive isotope with an isotope specific media to selectively extract at least some of the at least one radioactive isotope, wherein the at least some of the at least one radioactive isotope is retained within the isotope specific media; and separating the isotope specific media retaining the at least some of the at least one radioactive isotope from the wash solution resulting in a treated wash solution. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selective regenerant agent is used for destruction of organic compounds, and wherein the selective regenerant agent includes a chelating regenerant agent and a catalyst. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the chelating regenerant agent is used for oxidizing organic compounds. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising microwaving the treated wash solution. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the isotope specific media selectively extracts at least some of the at least one radioactive isotope of an element selected from the group consisting of cesium, strontium, and nickel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selective regenerant agent includes a chelating regenerant agent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the one or more radioactive isotopes includes at least a first radioactive isotope and a second radioactive isotope; the wash solution includes at least some of the first radioactive isotope and at least some of the second radioactive isotope from the ion exchange media; the isotope specific media is a first isotope specific media that selectively extracts at least some of the first radioactive isotope; and the treated wash solution includes the second radioactive isotope; mixing the treated wash solution with a second isotope specific media to selectively extract at least some of the second radioactive isotope, wherein the at least some of the second radioactive isotope is retained within the second isotope specific media; and separating the second isotope specific media retaining the at least some of the second radioactive isotope from the treated wash solution resulting in a further treated wash solution. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second radioactive isotope is an isotope of an element selected from the group consisting of cesium, strontium, and nickel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ion exchange media is regenerated for reuse. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising vitrifying the treated wash solution. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the isotope specific media is separated from the wash solution by directing the wash solution into a slurry tank. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the isotope specific media, after being separated from the wash solution, is at least one of embedded, impregnated, and coated with a specific contaminant that the isotope specific media is adapted to separate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second isotope specific media, after being separated from the treated wash solution, is at least one of embedded, impregnated, and coated with a specific contaminant that the second isotope specific media is adapted to separate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising thermally treating the further treated wash solution. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the thermally treating the further treated wash solution comprises at least one of microwaving and vitrifying.