The Localization of Finely Dispersed Caesium Radioaerosols from Off-Gases

Sergey A. Kulyukhin^1*, Vladimir V. Kulemin¹, Viktor A. Lavrikov¹, Igor A. Rumer¹, Vladimir B. Krapukhin¹, Vladimir V. Krapukhin²

¹Frumkin's Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
²NPP “FiltroSorb Technologies, Ltd.”, Moscow, Russia.

DOI: 10.4236/jpee.2014.24067                

Abstract

Based on fundamental research, we developed the basic scheme of a decontamination setup to remove acid gases (HCl, SO2, NOx) from steam-air flows with simultaneous localization of radioactive aerosols, including aerosols with a particle size of less than 0.1 μm and volatile radioactive iodine compounds. The decontamination process is based on the method of the agglomeration cocrystallization of finely dispersed and other aerosols in the gas phase by including the aerosols in the inner structure of large-particle non-radioactive aerosols of ammonium salts, for example, NH4Cl or (NH4)2SO3. For 137Cs, the most ecologically dangerous long-lived radionuclide, the setup ensures a decontamination factor of 102 to 103 in one decontamination stage. Because the setup consists of three consecutive stages of the same type, the cumulative decontamination factor can reach to 106 - 107. To localize radioactive iodine as I2, HI, HOI, HIO3, and CH3I from vapor-air flows, the setup uses a unit containing special granulated sorbents based on inorganic compounds. Developed at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, these sorbents effectively remove various radioactive iodine species (inorganic species and methyl iodide) from steam-air flows, ensuring decontamination factors of at least 104. The proposed technological scheme will allow vapor-gas flows to be cleaned of radioaerosols and all volatile radioactive iodine species at decontamination factors of not less than 104.

Keywords

Aerosols; Caesium; Agglomeration; Cocrystallization

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Morris, J.B. and Chidley, E.E. (1983) Preliminary Experience with the New Vitrification Inactive Pilot Plant. AERE Radioactive Waste Management and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, 3, 347-370.
[2]	(1982) Control of Semivolatile Radionuclides in Gaseous Effluents at Nuclear Facilities. IAEA Technical Report Series N 220, IAEA, Vienna.
[3]	Kessler, J.L. and Randall, C.T. (1984) Performance of a Large-Scale Melter Off-Gas System Utilizing Simulated SRP DWPF Waste. Proceedings Symposium “Waste Management’84”, 11-15 March 1984, Tucson.
[4]	(1988) Design and Operation of Off-Gas Cleaning Systems at High Level Waste Conditioning Facilities. IAEA Technical Report Series N 291, IAEA, Vienna.
[5]	(1989) Treatment of Off-Gas from Radioactive Waste Incinerations. IAEA Technical Report Series N 302. IAEA, Vienna.
[6]	MWIP (1994) Technology Summary. DOE/EM-0125P, 11.
[7]	Val’dberg, A.Yu. (1989) Pyli i Dymy. Nauka i Zhizn, 4, 1-76.
[8]	(1992) An Assessment of Off-Gas Treatment Technologies for Application to Thermal Treatment of Department of Energy Wastes. DOE/MWIP-1.
[9]	(1994) Underground Storage Tank Integrated Demonstration. DOE/EM-0122P, 35.
[10]	Mikheev, N.B., Kulyukhin, S.A., Kamenskaya, A.N. and Rumer, I.A. (1994) Concept of Protection from Radioaerosols and Volatile Radionuclides. Proceedings International Conference “New Trends in Nuclear System Thermohydraulics”, 30 May-2 June 1994, Pisa, 169-174.
[11]	Mikheev, N.B., Kulyukhin, S.A., Kamenskaya, A.N. and Rumer, I.A. (1994) New Concept of Environmental Protec- tion from Radioaerosols of Cesium and Iodine during Accidents at Nuclear Power Plants. Proceedings International Conference “Jahrestagung Kerntechnik’94”, 17-19 May 1994, Stuttgart 203-204.
[12]	Mikheev, N.B., Kulyukhin, S.A., Kamenskaya, A.N., Rumer, I.A., Kazakevich, M.Z. and Novichenko, V.L. (1994) New Concept of the Environmental Protection from Radioaerosols of Cesium and Iodine during Accidents at Nuclear Power Plants. Proceedings International Congress “ENC’94 + World Exhibition”, 2-6 October 1994, Lyon, 75-78.
[13]	Mikheev, N.B., Kamenskaya, A.N., Kulyukhin, S.A., Rumer, I.A. and Novichenko, V.L. (1994) Mixed Aerosols 137Cs with Ammonium Chloride. Radiokhimiya (Russia), 34, 346-349.
[14]	Mikheev, N.B., Melikhov, I.V., Kulyukhin, S.A., Kamenskaya, A.N. and Novichenko, V.L. (1996) The Study of Agglomeration of Caesesium Iodide in Gas Phase during It Evaporation from Metal Surface. Radiokhimiya (Russia), 38, 464-470.
[15]	Mikheev, N.B., Kulyukhin, S.A., Kamenskaya, A.N., Rumer, I.A. and Novichenko, V.L. (1996) Using of NH4Cl Aerosols for Localization of CsI Radioaerosols form Gas Phase. Radiokhimiya (Russia), 38, 458-463.
[16]	Mikheev, N.B., Kulyukhin, S.A., Rumer, I.A., Kazakevich, M.Z., Kamenskaya, A.N. and Kornienko, A.G. (1997) Method of Radionuclide Capture from the Gas Phase. Russia Patent N 2084027.
[17]	Neau, F.L. (1993) Environmental and Industrial Applications of Pulsed Power System. Proceedings IEEE International Conference on Plasma Sciences, Vancouver, 7-9 June 1993, 35-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/PLASMA.1993.593001