Understanding and Controlling Cesium Loading on Crystalline Silicotitanate - 19601
Savannah River Remediation (SRR) contracted with Westinghouse Electric Corporation (WEC), Columbia Energy and Environmental Services (CEES), to build and deliver a modular ion exchange process that will be used to remove radioactive cesium from dissolved salt solution contained in Tank 10 at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The resulting decontaminated salt solution will be sent to Tank 11 and then to Tank 50 for final disposition in grout at the Saltstone facility. At the end of processing, the loaded ion exchange (IX) columns are drained, rinsed, and dried. The IX columns are removed from the modular unit and stored at Interim Safe Storage (ISS). This ion exchange process is called the Tank Closure Cesium Removal (TCCR) system. The TCCR system consists of several unit operations and process monitoring capability housed within three modular units. The first modular unit contains the process control computer, the second modular unit contains the main process equipment (two prefilters, four IX columns, and resin trap (post filtration)), and the third modular unit is the ventilation system. The main unit operations of the TCCR system are filtration, ion exchange, and ventilation. The ion exchange media utilized is a form of inorganic Crystalline Silicotitanate (CST), IONSIV{sup TM} R9120-B supplied by UOP Honeywell. CST has a high selectivity for cesium (Cs) and has some affinity for other Group IA alkali metals on the periodic chart (hydrogen, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and francium). CST has also been shown to have affinity for strontium and actinides. Cesium loading on the CST is dependent on many factors including chemical composition (cations and anions), temperature, and pH of the salt solution. The actual amount of Cs loaded onto an IX column is dependent on the factors above along with the salt solution volume fed to the IX column. Because of CST's high selectivity for Cs, the Cs-137 equilibrium loading can contribute enough decay heat to result in an ion exchange column boiling event under no flow conditions in the IX column. The boiling event under no flow is a safety concern that must be prevented from occurring. To prevent boiling of the column under no flow conditions, the Cs-137 equilibrium loading must be determined and understood. Several methodologies were evaluated for performing the Cs-137 equilibrium loading determination for CST. After review of available research and development (R and D), batch equilibrium contact test data, and Zheng Anthony Miller (ZAM) model predictions for the salt solution chemistry in Tank 10, a methodology for determining the Cs-137 equilibrium loading on CST was selected. The methodology selected involves an in-tank batch equilibrium contact test performed in duplicate that considers additional corrections to account for anticipated operational evolutions. The in-tank batch equilibrium contact test utilizes ∼0.1 grams of CST secured in a slotted sample vial. The slotted sample vial design allows for salt solution to be in contact with the CST. The slotted sample vials containing the CST are submerged in Tank 10 and exposed to the salt solution for ten days. After ten days, the samples are retrieved and sent to the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) for analysis of the Cs-137 equilibrium loading. Additional corrections are then made to the Cs-137 results to account for anticipated operational evolutions. Anticipated operational evolutions include external additions (water/caustic) to Tank 10 that result in a change to its chemical composition, tank temperature effects, departures from the laboratory testing (mixed vs. stagnant tank conditions), and IX column flushes. A description of the methodologies considered, feasibility of methodology deployment, and the down select process (benefits vs. risks) is discussed in this paper. (authors)