US 7,115,542 B2 · Removal of radioactive and other hazardous material from fluid waste

Abstract

Hollow glass microspheres obtained from fly ash (cenospheres) are impregnated with extractants/ion-exchangers and used to remove hazardous material from fluid waste. In a preferred embodiment the microsphere material is loaded with ammonium molybdophosphonate (AMP) and used to remove radioactive ions, such as cesium-137, from acidic liquid wastes. In another preferred embodiment, the microsphere material is loaded with octyl(phenyl)-N-N-diisobutyl-carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) and used to remove americium and plutonium from acidic liquid wastes.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of making an extractant material adapted to remove contaminants from fluid waste, comprising:

a) Providing at least one porous molded glass matrix comprising perforated hollow glass crystalline microspheres obtained from fly ash, and
b) impregnating said microspheres with an extractant compound by
i) dissolving at least one reactant used to make said extractant compound in a solvent,
ii) loading said solvent containing said at least one reactant into said porous matrix under vacuum,
iii) drying said matrix,
iv) dissolving at least one other reactant used to make said extractant in said solvent,
v) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) with said at least one other reactant, to cause said reactants to react and precipitate said extractant compound in-situ, and
vi) using ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP) as said extractant compound and ammonium hydroxide as said solvent.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Removal of radioactive and other hazardous material from fluid waste

Life of this patent

Removal of radioactive and other hazardous material from fluid waste

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11