Korovin V.Yu., Valiaiev O.M., Pohorielov Yu.M., Shestak Yu.G., Lavrova T.V., Haneklaus N. Uranium sorption from radioactive waste of uranium ore processing at Pridneprovsk Chemical Plant

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Parent Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2021

Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2021, Issue 157

Geoteh. meh. 2021, 157, 212-222

https://doi.org/10.15407/geotm2021.157.212

 

URANIUM SORPTION FROM RADIOACTIVE WASTE OF URANIUM ORE PROCESSING AT PRIDNEPROVSK CHEMICAL PLANT

¹Korovin V.Yu., ¹Valiaiev O.M., ²Pohorielov Yu.M., ¹Shestak Yu.G., ³Lavrova T.V., ⁴Haneklaus N.

¹Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics named by N. Poljakov of NAS of Ukraine, ²Dniprovsk State Technical University, ³Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute of NAS of Ukraine and State Service of Emergencies of Ukraine, ⁴Danube University Krems

UDC 541.49:546.791.6+546.73

Language: English

Abstract. The research results were generalized regarding the possibility of uranium sorption from radioactive waste accumulated at Production Association “Pridneprovsky Chemical Plant” (PA PCP). The conceptual possibility was illustrated for sorption leaching of uranium from pulps produced by acidic leaching of radioactive waste dumped at Zapadnoye (Western) tailing impoundment using AMP anionite contained benzyl pyridinium functional groups (manufactured by Smoly State Enterprise). Uranium recovery was 70 % to 80 % during waste acidic leaching with the mixture of 15 % sulphuric and 1.5 % nitric acids. Application of sorption leaching allowed the recovery increase up to 15 %. Uranium recovery was assessed from upper ground and underground water of Centralny Yar tailing site using AM-p-2 strong base macroporous anionite (produced by Smoly SP) based on styrene-divinyl benzene copolymer with 2-hydroxyethyl-dimethylammonium functional groups. This tailing impoundment features acidic reaction of radioactive water since the pulp was almost not neutralized after ore processing. It poses an environmental hazard due to active uranium leaching from the tailing impoundment body and its ability to migrate into groundwater. It was found that the distribution factor may attain ~2 000 for uranium concentration 7 mg/l in interstitial water and 4 mg/l in underground water. Assessment results were given regarding uranium recovery from radioactively contaminated water accumulated in the basement of building No. 103 using phosphate cationite based on modified plant material. The building is extremely contaminated and of top-priority for treatment and further dismantling. Sorbent capacity by uranium achieved in static mode was ~20 mg/g with distribution factor ~4 800. The results obtained may be proposed as the reasoning for the method and technology intended to decontaminate polluted water before it would be pumped from underground rooms of building No. 103. The research performed has shown that application of sorption materials is the most expedient and promising method for selective uranium recovery when solving the problems of tailing site remediation and handling radioactive waste of the former Pridneprovsky Chemical Plant.
Keywords: Pridneprovsky Chemical Plant, uranium ore processing tailing sites, sorption, cationite, anionite.

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About the authors:

Korovin Vadym Yuriiovych, Ph.D. (Chem.), Head of Laboratory of New Technologies for Raw and Industrial Waste Processing, Department of Elastomeric Component Mechanics in Mining Machines, Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics named by N. Poljakov of National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Valiaiev Oleksandr Mykhailovich, Engineer at the Laboratory of New Technologies for Raw and Industrial Waste Processing, Department of Elastomeric Component Mechanics in Mining Machines, Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics named by N. Poljakov of National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pohorielov Yurii Mykolaiovych, Senior Researcher at Sorbent Scientific and Pedagogic Center, Dniprovsk State Technical University State Higher Education Institution (DGTU SHEI), Kamianske, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Shestak Yurii Hryhorovych, Senior Engineer at the Laboratory of New Technologies for Raw and Industrial Waste Processing, Department of Elastomeric Component Mechanics in Mining Machines, Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics named by N. Poljakov of National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lavrova Tetiana Valeriivna, Researcher, Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute of State Service of Emergencies of Ukraine and NAS of Ukraine (UHMI), Kyiv, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Haneklaus Nils Hendrik, Ph.D., Senior Researcher, Td-Lab Sustainable Mineral Resources, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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