EXTRACTION OF TECHNETIUM FROM SIMULATED HANFORD TANK WASTES

Aqueous biphasic separation systems are being developed for the treatment of liquid radioactive wastes. These extraction systems are based on the use of polyethylene glycols (PEGs) for the selective extraction and recovery of long-lived radionuclides, such as I-129, Se-75, and Tc-99, from caustic solutions containing high concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, and carbonate. Because of the high ionic strengths of supernatant liquids in Hanford underground storage tanks, aqueous biphasic systems can be generated by simply adding aqueous PEG solutions directly to the waste solution. In the process, anionic species like I- and TcO4- are selectively transferred to the less dense PEG phase. The partition coefficients for a wide range of inorganic cations and anions, such as sodium, potassium, aluminum, nitrate, nitrite, and carbonate, are all less than one. We present experimental data on extraction of technetium from several simulated Hanford tank wastes at 25 degrees and 50 degrees C.