• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.689-695
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• 2003

Electrochemical decontamination process has been applied for recycle or self disposal with authorization of large amount of metallic wastes contaminated with uranium compounds such as $UO_2$, ammonium uranyl carbonate (AUC), ammonium di-uranate (ADU), and uranyl nitrate(UN) with tributylphosphate(TBP) and dodecane, which are generated by dismantling the contaminated system components and equipment of a retired uranium conversion plant in Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). Electrochemical decontamination for metallic wastes contaminated with uranium compounds was evaluated through the experiments on the electrolytic dissolution of stainless steel as the material of the system components in neutral salt electrolytes. The effects of type of neutral salt as the electrolyte, current density, and concentration of electrolyte on the dissolution of the materials were evaluated. Decontamination performance tests using the specimens taken from a uranium conversion plant were quite successful with the application electrochemical decontamination conditions obtained through the basic studies on the electrolytic dissolution of structural material of the system components.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.72-80
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• 2004

Electrolytic dissolution study was carried out to evaluate the applicability of electrochemical decontamination process using a neutral salt electrolyte as a decontamination technology for the recycle or self disposal with authorization of large amount of metallic wastes contaminated with uranium compounds generated by dismantling a retired uranium conversion plant using SUS-304 and Inconel-600 specimen as the main materials of internal system components of the plant. The effects of type of neutral salt as an electrolyte, current density, and concentration of electrolyte on the dissolution of the materials were evaluated. On the basis of the results obtained through the basic inactive experiments, electrochemical decontamination tests using the specimens contaminated with uranium compounds such as $UO_2$, AUC (ammonium uranyl carbonate) and ADU (ammonium diuranate) taken from an uranium conversion plant were peformed in $Na_2SO_4$ and $NaNO_3$ solution. It was verified that the electrochemical decontamination of the dismantled metallic wastes was quite successful in $Na_2SO_4$ and $NaNO_3$ neutral salt electrolyte by reducing $\beta$ radioactivities below the level of self disposal with authorization within 10 minutes regardless of the type of contaminants and the degree of contamination.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2020

In this paper, the efficiency and the inhibition mechanisms of cobalt salts (cobalt nitrate and cobalt-exchange silica Co/Si) for the corrosion protection of AA2024 were investigated in a neutral aqueous solution by using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization curves. The experimental measurements suggest that cobalt cation plays a role as a cathodic inhibitor. The efficiency of cobalt cation was important at the concentration range from 0.001 to 0.01 M. The formation of precipitates of oxides/hydroxides of cobalt on the surface at low inhibitor concentration was confirmed by the Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) analysis. EIS measurements were also conducted for the AA2024 surface covered by water-based epoxy coating comprising Co/Si salt. The results obtained from exposure in the electrolyte demonstrated the improvement of the barrier and inhibition properties of the coating exposed in the electrolyte solution for a lengthy time. The SEM/EDS analysis in artificial scribes of the coating after salt spray testing revealed the release of cobalt cations in the coating defect to induce the barrier layer on the exposed AA2024 substrate.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2003

A study on the electrolytic dissolution of SUS-304 and Inconel-600 specimen was carried out in neutral salt electrolyte to evaluate the applicability of electrochemical decontamination process for recycle or self disposal with authorization of large amount of metallic wastes contaminated with uranium compounds generated by dismantling a retired uranium conversion plant in Korea. Although the best electrolytic dissolution performance for the specimens was observed in a Na2s04 electrolyte, a NaNO$_3$ neutral salt electrolyte, in which about 30% for SUS-304 and the same for Inconel-600 in the weight loss was shown in comparison with that in a Na$_2$SO$_4$ solution, was selected as an electrolyte for the electrochemical decontamination of metallic wastes with the consideration on the surface of system components contacted with nitric acid and the compatibility with lagoon wastes generated during the facility operation. The effects of current density, electrolytic dissolution time, and concentration of NaNO$_3$ on the electrolytic dissolution of the specimens were investigated. On the basis of the results obtained through the basic inactive experiments, electrochemical decontamination tests using the specimens contaminated with uranium compounds such as UO$_2$, AUC (ammonium uranyl carbonate) and ADU (ammonium diuranate) taken from an uranium conversion facility were performed in 1M NaNO$_3$ solution with the current density or In mA/$\textrm{cm}^2$. it was verified that the electrochemical decontamination of the metallic wastes contaminated uranium compounds was quite successful in a NaNO$_3$ neutral salt electrolyte by reducing $\alpha$ and $\beta$ radioactivities below the level of self disposal within 10 minutes regardless of the type of contaminants and the degree of contamination.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2002

Conventional and modified electrolytic decontamination experiment were performed in the 1.7 M solution of sodium sulfate and sodium nitrate tot decontamination of carbon steel as the simulated metal wastes which have been produced in large amounts from nuclear power plants. Anode ant cathode were used as inconel and titanium respective. The reaction time and temperature were 1 hr and $25^{\circ}C$ The analyses were performed of the characteristics such as weight loss arid thickness change of metal waste. suspended solid in electrolyte and SEM observation. In modified electrolyte decontamination system with increased current density ranged from 0.1 to $0.6A/cm^2$, the metal waste showed thickness changes of $0.48{\pm}0.005$ to $67.7{\pm}0.02{\mu}m$ in 1.7 M sodium sulfate and those of $0.06{\pm}0.005$ to $17.7{\pm}0.05{\mu}m$ in sodium nitrate. Metal waste in modified electrolyte decontamination system showed the thickness change of $9.8{\pm}0.01{\mu}m$ while it reacted up to $3.7{\pm}0.03{\mu}m$ in conventional system with $0.3 A/cm^2$ of current density and 1.7 M sodium sulfate. Decontamination efficiencies of modified electrolytic process ate much hither than that of conventional electrolytic process when both are applied to metal waste.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 1977

This experiment has been carried out to determine the pH dependent cation exchange capacity concerning the sorption phenomenon of long-lived radionuclides contained in low-level liquid radioactive waste on various clay minerals. The pH dependent cation exchange capacity determined by Sawhney's method are used to the analysis of sorption phenomenon. About 70 percent of the total cation exchange capacity is contributed by the pH dependent CEC due to the negative charge originated naturally in clays in case of clinoptilolite, vermiculite and sodalite. It is sugested in this test that the high neutral salt CEC, that is, highly charged clays would show good fixation yield. The removal of radionuclides at the pH range more than pH 9 is considered the hydroxide precipitation of metal ion rather than the cation exchange. The Na-clay prepared by the method of successive isomorphic substitution with electrolyte showed a considerable improvement in removal efficiency for the decontamination.