Zeolites
AssigneeThe Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
InventorBryan W. Garney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Crystals of the Zeolite Analcime (Analcite) Na.sub.2 O.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.4SiO.sub.2.2H.sub.2 O are provided having a largest dimension greater than 50 micron. A method for preparing such crystals by mixing aqueous solutions of aluminium sulphate and sodium metasilicate, allowing a gel to form then heating, is provided. The presence of an organic water-miscible base encourages an increased crystal size. The crystals retain water strongly and a use for them in long term immobilisation of tritiated waste water is provided.
Claims17
Analcime crystals having their largest dimension greater than 106 microns and including a fraction of crystals of largest dimension between 106 and 180 microns, wherein a fraction of largest dimension between 106 and 125 microns when containing T.sub.2 O and placed in water, has a half-life of exchange of the T.sub.2 O with the water of about 167 years.
Analcime crystals having their largest dimension greater than 106 microns, the crystals being substantially free of porous regions.
A method for immobilization of a water material selected from the group consisting of water (H.sub.2 O), deuterium oxide (D.sub.2 O), tritium oxide (T.sub.2 O), or mixtures thereof, which method comprises absorbing said water material into Analcime crystals having their largest dimension in excess of 106 microns and including a fraction of Analcime crystals of largest dimension between 106 and 125 microns, or into a body wherein the Analcime crystals having their largest dimension in excess of 106 microns and including a fraction of Analcime crystals of largest dimension between 106 and 125 microns are embedded in a water-porous binder matrix, wherein the Analcime crystals of largest dimension between 106 and 125 microns, when containing T.sub.2 O and placed in water, have a half-life of exchange of the T.sub.2 O with the water of about 167 years.
A method for immobilization of a water material selected from the group consisting of water (H.sub.2 O), deuterium oxide (D.sub.2 O), tritium oxide (T.sub.2 O), or mixtures thereof, which method comprises absorbing said water material into Analcime crystals having their largest dimension greater than 106 microns and being substantially free of porous regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.