Two methods capable of near complete recovery of technetium adsorbed on charcoal are presented. The first involves liquid extraction of the technetium from the charcoal by hot 4M nitric acid. An average recovery of 98% (n=3) is obtained after three rounds of extraction. The second method involves dry ashing with air in a quartz combustion tube at 400-450 degrees C. This method yields an average recovery of 96% (n=5). Other thermal methods were attempted, but resulted in reduced recovery and incomplete material balance
Revised: June 28, 2006 |
Published: May 1, 2006
Citation
Engelmann M.D., L.A. Metz, and N.E. Ballou. 2006.Recovery of Technetium Adsorbed on Charcoal.Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 268, no. 2:201-204.PNNL-SA-46393.doi:10.1007/s10967-006-0154-1