# US 8,772,565 B1 · Method of recycling radioactive waste acid

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- Number: US 8,772,565 B1
- Document ID: US8772565B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/934,503
- Filed: 2013-07-03
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-04-26
- Assignees: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Atomic Energy Council
- Applicants: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan, R.O.C.
- Inventors: Chin-Hsiang Kan; Wen-Cheng Lee; Tsong-Yang Wei
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772565B1

## CPC

- G21F 9/06: Processing (separating different isotopes of the same chemical element B01D59/00)
- B01D 9/0013: {by indirect heat exchange}
- G21F 9/04: Treating liquids
- G21F 9/10: by flocculation
- 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)
- 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)

## Abstract

A radioactive waste acid is recycled. The waste acid is a fluoboric waste acid. The waste acid contains a lot of oxides and radioactive nuclei. The waste fluoboric acid is processed to obtain a purified fluoboric acid. The amount of radioactive nuclei is greatly reduced. Thus, the present invention has a simple procedure with low cost and reduced power consumption.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of recycling a radioactive waste acid, comprising steps of:
(a) removing solid objects in a fluoroborate waste acid, wherein said solid objects are oxides and radioactive nuclei;
(b) adding a sulphuric acid to said fluoroborate waste acid to be reacted to obtain an acidic solution having metal sulphates;
(c) crystallizing said acidic solution through convection with a cooling water to obtain crystals of said metal sulphates containing crystallization water; and
(d) processing solid-liquid separation to separate crystals of said metal sulphates from said acidic solution.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein a device of purifying and recycling a waste acid is used and said device comprises
a collecting tank, said collecting tank containing said fluoroborate waste acid;
a filter, said filter being connected with said collecting tank, said filter removing solid objects in said fluoroborate waste acid;
a dispensing tank, said dispensing tank being connected with said filter, said dispensing tank containing said sulphuric acid and said fluoroborate waste acid obtained after said solid objects in said fluoroborate waste acid are removed;
a pre-crystallizing tank, said pre-crystallizing tank being connected with said dispensing tank;
a crystallizing tank, said crystallizing tank being connected with said pre-crystallizing tank;
a purifying tank, said purifying tank being connected with said crystallizing tank;
a recycling tank, said recycling tank being connected with said purifying tank;
a low-temperature recycling water tank, said low-temperature recycling water tank being connected with said purifying tank; and
a plurality of separating tanks, said separating tank being separately corresponding to said pre-crystallizing tank, said crystallizing tank and said purifying tank.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2,
wherein, after being reacted in said dispensing tank, said fluoroborate waste acid enters into said pre-crystallizing tank and then said crystallizing tank and then said purifying tank and then said recycling tank; and
wherein said pre-crystallizing tank is cooled down to a temperature below 8 Celsius degrees (° C.) on being filled with said fluoroborate waste acid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2,
wherein said low-temperature recycling water tank processes heat exchange through self circulation; and
wherein fluid flows through said purifying tank and said crystallizing tank to enter into said pre-crystallizing tank and, then, flows back to said low-temperature recycling water tank.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2,
wherein said separating tank processes solid-liquid separation to separate crystals of metal sulphates from an acidic solution.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2,
wherein said dispensing tank has an agitator to stir said fluoroborate waste acid on adding said sulphuric acid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein said fluoroborate waste acid has a density of 5˜40 percents (%).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein said sulphuric acid has a density of 5˜30 weight percents (wt %).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein said acidic solution is crystallized at a temperature of 2˜8 Celsius degrees (° C.).