Flotation of Cesium Coprecipitated with Nickel Hexacyanoferrate(II) from Aqueous Solutions and Radioactive Waste Simulants

Abstract

The coprecipitate flotation of ¹³⁷Cs from dilute aqueous solutions and simulated radioactive wastes using nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) as a coprecipitant and sodium lauryl sulfate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, or dodecyl amine as a collector was extensively investigated to establish the best conditions for cesium removal. Under the optimal conditions, removals exceeding 99% and decontamination factors higher than 110 could be achieved for the radioactive waste simulants. The results are compared with those obtained by conventional removal methods and are discussed in terms of the collector properties and the electrical state of the coprecipitate.

Keywords:

• Flotation
• coprecipitate flotation
• Cesium‐137
• nickel hexacyanoferrate(II)
• radioactive waste
• collector

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Prof. S. F. Estefan, National Research Center, Cairo, for his valuable comments.