Use of Coalhumic Preparations for Localizing Uranium and Mercury in Liquid and Solid Production Drains of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation
The use of coalhumic preparations (CHP) obtained by mechanochemical activation of the brown coal of the Kansk-Achinsk coal basin and sodium percarbonate for sorption of mobile forms of uranium and mercury from pulp storage decantates and their localization (immobilization) in the insoluble matrix adapted to nature was considered. The study was carried out in the framework of the elaboration of the technology and liquidation of pulp storages of Rosatom Corp. containing radioactive and mercury-containing wastes accumulated at the programme performance on the output of uranium and lithium products for the needs of armament and energetics. Uranium- and mercury-containing decantates and slimes of the pulp storage of liquid radioactive wastes formed at precipitation of the neutralisation products of uranium containing nitric acid raffinates using lime milk, as well as mercury containing building wastes were used. It was determined that the decantate temperature in a range of 6-25 °C had little effect on the sorption process of uranium and mercury on CHP. IR spectra of CHP samples indicate the predominantly sorption nature of the interaction of uranium and mercury compounds with CHP. The possibility of CHP to reduce the concentration of uranium in the decantate to the normative indicators at its prolonged contact with the uranium-containing sludge of liquid radioactive wastes (LRW) of pulp storage was demonstrated. An effect of the CHP additive on the mobile phase concentration of mercury in mercury-containing wastes was studied. It was proposed to use CHP for the solution of environmental problems facing Rosatom Corp. and allied industry areas.