VNIPIpromtekhnologii JSC, Moscow, Russia:

A. V. Tatarnikov, Group Head
S. I. Andreeva, Specialist of Ione Exchange Group
E. Yu. Meshkov, Head of laboratory, Meshkov.E.J@vnipipt.ru
A. A. Soloviev, Department Head

The implemented testing of ion exchange resins applicable at PIMCU enabled development of a new lab-scale express-test procedure for anion exchange resins, including adsorption of ion exchange resins with ball milling of saturated ion exchange resins in each adsorption cycle. Using the procedure with the expanded selection criteria of adsorbents with regard to their stability in the near industrial conditions made it possible to reduce the number of samples meant for the long-term semi-commercial trial. The authors analyzed the influence of silicic acid on adsorption properties of ion exchange resins. The characteristics of ion exchange resins, which influence stability of the latter in process solutions containing much silicium, are determined, namely, the porous structure and the swelling ratio. The mechanism of disintegration of anion exchange resin grains in the CIP process under conditions of high silicium content is proposed. This mechanism consists in formation of a silicon envelope around an ion exchange resin grain to prevent natural change of the volume of the grain in the adsorption and desorption media, which can lead to fracturing of the inner part of the grain in saturation with uranium. The concurrent semi-commercial trials proved efficiency of the proposed lab-scale testing procedure. Thanks to the expanded testing criteria, the new procedure allows early-stage identification of the samples best suitable for the further analysis. The economic benefit of the procedure is the reduced expenditures connected with purchasing of ion exchange resin samples and the resources saving in the further testing.

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