Method for immobilizing radioactive iodine
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsHarry Babad, Denis M. Strachan
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Abstract
Radioactive iodine, present as alkali metal iodides or iodates in an aqueous solution, is incorporated into an inert solid material for long-term storage by adding to the solution a stoichiometric amount with respect to the formation of a sodalite (3M.sub.2 O.3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. 6SiO.sub.2.2MX, where M=alkali metal; X=I.sup.- or IO.sub.3.sup.-) of an alkali metal, alumina and silica, stirring the solution to form a homogeneous mixture, drying the mixture to form a powder, compacting and sintering the compacted powder at 1073 to 1373 K (800.degree. to 1100.degree. C.) for a time sufficient to form sodalite.
Claims3
A method of incorporating radioactive iodines, present as sodium or potassium iodides or iodates in an aqueous nitrate-free solution, into an inert, solid material suitable for long-term storage comprising:
- adding an effective amount of alumina, silica and an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium to the solution for the formation of a sodalite;
- stirring the solution to form a homogeneous mixture;
- drying the mixture to form a powder;
- and
- compacting and heating the powder to at least 6.9 mPa at 1073 to 1373 K (800.degree. to 1100.degree. C.) for a time sufficient to form an inert solid sodalite compact suitable for long-term storage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.