Sonochemical recovery of uranium from nanosilica-based sorbent and its biohybrid

Role of ammonium ionic liquid and Pd nanoparticles in cavitation-based graphite decontamination and recycling process

Sonochemical recovery of radioactive contaminants from nuclear graphite has been demonstrated to be quite invaluable in recent studies. However, graphite is a soft material and is prone to erosion and wear. This restricts the recycle of graphite cleaned using ultrasound beyond a few decontamination cycles. Hence, it is an imperative to prevent the surface erosion of graphite in the sonic field. The current work studies the efficacy of ultrasound in decontaminating ceria contaminated graphite coupons using a cocktail of acids (0.25 M HNO3 - 1 M HCOOH - 0.2 M [N2H5][NO3]). Based on the superlative effects of ionic liquids in lubrication and erosion prevention, the effect of adding ionic liquid stabilized Pd nanoparticles to the leachate was also studied. It was observed that the Trioctylmethyl ammonium chloride (TOMAC) ionic liquid prevented the generation of the carbon residue due to a protective viscous layer formation reducing the mechanical effects of cavitation on graphite surface. It also helped in maintaining the porosity change in graphite microstructure around 5% after 15 cycles of decontamination. TOMAC also proved to offer better surface protection on graphite compared to imidazolium-based ILs, based on the change in compressive strength and porosity in different ionic liquids. The palladium nanoparticles, on the other hand, helped in reductive dissolution of ceria layer by acting as a reducing agent due to its lower reduction potential compared to cerium. With the surge in demand of graphite worldwide, a non-destructive decontamination process for graphite with no secondary waste generation is the need of the hour. This study is an attempt in that direction.

Sonochemistry of actinides: from ions to nanoparticles and beyond

Sonochemistry studies chemical and physical effects in liquids submitted to power ultrasound. These effects arise not from a direct interaction of molecules with sound waves, but rather from the acoustic cavitation: the nucleation, growth, and implosive collapse of microbubbles in liquids submitted to power ultrasound. The violent implosion of bubbles leads to the formation of chemically reactive species. In principle, each cavitation bubble can be considered as a microreactor initiating chemical reactions at mild conditions. In addition, microjets and shock waves accompanied bubble collapse produce fragmentation, dispersion and erosion of solid surfaces or particles. Microbubbles oscillating in liquids also enable nucleation and precipitation of nanosized actinide compounds with specific morphology. This review focuses on the versatile sonochemical processes with actinide ions and particles in homogenous solutions and heterogenous systems. The redox reactions in aqueous solutions, dissolution or precipitation of refractory solids, synthesis of actinide nanoparticles, and ultrasonically driving decontamination are considered. The guideline for further research is also discussed.

Sonocatalytic recovery of ceria from graphite and inhibition of graphite erosion by ionic liquid based platinum nanocatalyst

Use of ultrasound as an intensified non-destructive decontamination technique for processing graphite limits its reusability beyond a few number of decontamination cycles due to the exfoliation of graphite due to cavitation effects. The current work establishes that the use of platinum nanoparticles in the leachant reduces the erosion of graphite substrate due to cavitation. It presents an improved way of sonochemical recovery of ceria using a mixture of nitric acid, formic acid and hydrazinium nitrate in the presence of platinum nanoparticles and ionic liquid. The platinum nanoparticles catalyst in ionic liquid prevented the generation of the carbon residue due to the combined effect of denitration and reduced sonication. The presence of the catalyst showed a fivefold increase in dissolution kinetics of ceria as well as absence of graphite erosion, facilitating better chances of graphite recycling than the decontamination without the catalyst. The catalytic approach offers a better recycle strategy for graphite with reduced exfoliation and NOx generation due to denitration, making it a more sustainable decontamination process. Since ceria is used as a surrogate for plutonium oxide, the results can be extended to decontaminate such deposits clearly establishing the utility of the presented results in the nuclear industry.