Immobilization of metal cations with titanium phosphate sorbents

Abstract

Dehydration and crystallization of titanium phosphate sorbents saturated with metal cations were studied with the aim of developing methods for immobilization and reliable disposal of radionuclides. The heat treatment of spent titanium phosphate sorbent with the molar ratio P : Ti(IV) ≤ 1 results in the formation of stable poorly soluble mineral-like crystalline matrices of framework structure with a low-mobility cationic sublattice. Immobilization of radionuclides directly in the spent titanium phosphate sorbent upon its conversion into the crystalline state in the form of a stable ceramic matrix allows minimization of the volume of waste to be disposed of and enhancement of the reliability of their long-term storage.