The removal of radioactive compounds from fluorozirconic acid solutions

Abstract

Three purification methods have been employed for the removal of radioactivity from fluoro zirconic acid solutions, being selective precipitation, solvent extraction and ion-exchange. The selective precipitation method emerged as being the best with solvent extraction being the least effective. The precipitation method using CaO as precipitant has associated with it an advantage of being cost effective and a disadvantage of the generation of radioactive waste. The ionexchange method has an advantage of good performance and a disadvantage of the resin not being satisfactorily regenerable and thereby rendering the method not cost effective on plant scale.