Metal separations using titanium-based materials

INOR 94

D. T. Hobbs, david.hobbs@srnl.doe.gov1, M. D. Nyman, mdnyman@sandia.gov2, and D. R. Click, damon.click@srnl.doe.gov1. (1) Savannah River National Laboratory, Washington Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC 29808, (2) Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87185
Sodium titanates are effective adsorbents/ion exchangers for a variety of metallic ions in aqueous solutions. For example, an amorphous titanate material referred to as monosodium titanate (MST) exhibits high affinity for strontium and actinides in strongly alkaline and high ionic strength solution such as those produced from processing of irradiated nuclear fuels. A related material, referred to as amorphous peroxotitanate (APT), produced upon addition of hydrogen peroxide during or after the synthesis of sodium titanates exhibits even better performance for strontium and actinide removal. Recently we have expanded our studies to investigate the affinity of these titanate materials to other metallic ions under neutral and acidic conditions. This paper presents findings on the ion exchange characteristics of these materials with a variety of alkaline earth, transition, lanthanide and main group metals under acidic conditions.