US 12,033,766 B2
Method for conditioning ion exchange resins and apparatus for carrying out the method
Gert Seybert, Erlangen (DE); Robert Lehr, Erlangen (DE); Bertram Zeiler, Erlangen (DE); Philip Schuberth, Erlangen (DE); and Steffen Weiss, Erlangen (DE)
Assigned to FRAMATOME GMBH, (DE)
Appl. No. 17/413,365
Filed by FRAMATOME GMBH, Erlangen (DE)
PCT Filed Nov. 28, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/082826
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 11, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/120143, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 18, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2018 131 902.9 (DE), filed on Dec. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0020507 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. G21F 9/12 (2006.01); B01J 45/00 (2006.01); B01J 49/30 (2017.01); B01J 49/50 (2017.01); G21F 9/30 (2006.01)
CPC G21F 9/12 (2013.01) [B01J 45/00 (2013.01); B01J 49/30 (2017.01); B01J 49/50 (2017.01); G21F 9/30 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0879 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for conditioning of spent ion exchange resins from nuclear facilities, comprising the steps of:
mixing the spent ion exchange resins with water to form a reaction mixture;
setting and monitoring the pH of the reaction mixture in a range from 1.0 to 3.5;
adding an oxidant to the reaction mixture, with the temperature of the reaction mixture maintained at 90° C. or less, so that the spent ion exchange resin and the oxidant react with each other to form an aqueous reaction solution comprising organic reaction products of the spent ion exchange resin; and
electrochemically oxidizing the organic reaction products in the reaction solution by means of a boron-doped diamond electrode, wherein carbon dioxide is produced and a carbon-depleted aqueous reaction solution having a TOC (total organic carbon) value of less than 50 ppm is obtained.
 
20. An apparatus for conditioning of spent ion exchange resins, comprising:
a reaction vessel for the accommodation of the spent ion exchange resins and water;
an oxidant supply that is connected to the reaction vessel;
a vacuum distillation unit comprising a spray column that is connected to the reaction vessel and a condenser; and
a unit for electrochemical oxidation that is arranged within the reaction vessel or connected to it, with the unit for electrochemical oxidation having a boron-doped diamond electrode.