Method to prevent accidental ruthenium volatilization from high-level liquid waste using alkaline earth hydroxide

AbstractWe investigated a method to prevent RuO4 formation from a heated high-level liquid waste (HLLW) in a severe accident in a reprocessing facility. When the alkali or alkaline earth hydroxides were added in excess of the point of neutralization of HLLW, the amount of RuO4 released was significantly suppressed to less than 1% of that without hydroxide addition. Alkaline earth hydroxides would be more suitable for actual use, because alkali hydroxides enhance RuO4 release by an addition below the equivalent neutralization whereas alkaline earth hydroxides do not have such effect.
Source: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Category: Nuclear Medicine Source Type: research