Inorganic ion exchangers for strontium removal from radioactive waste : a review

İNAN S.

JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY, 2022 (Journal Indexed in SCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s10967-022-08206-3
  • Title of Journal : JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
  • Keywords: Strontium, Sorption, Radioactive waste, Inorganic ion exchanger, Selectivity, LAYERED METAL SULFIDES, AQUEOUS-SOLUTION, SYNTHETIC ZEOLITE, CESIUM REMOVAL, LIQUID WASTE, ADSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS, SODIUM NONATITANATE, SOLVENT-EXTRACTION, SELECTIVE REMOVAL, HEAVY-METALS

Abstract

Sr-90 is the most hazardous radioactive isotope of strontium that is produced during the normal operation of nuclear reactors. It can also spread to the environment due to fallout from nuclear accidents and nuclear weapon testing. The removal of hazardous radionuclides and the safe management of radioactive waste are of vital necessity. Inorganic ion exchangers stand out with their thermal, chemical and radiation resistance. They also show remarkable selectivity for specific cations. This review focuses on the removal of Sr-90 by natural and synthetic inorganic ion exchangers, viz. zeolites, clay minerals, hydroxyapatite, insoluble acid salts, hydrous oxides and metal sulfides.