Speaker
Description
The precise identification and quantification of radionuclides is essential, for example, for monitoring emissions from nuclear installations, environmental radioactivity measurements and the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. As one of the main activation products in nuclear power plants (NPP), Co-60 complicates gamma-spectrometric analysis through the introduction of a pronounced Compton background, potentially obscuring other radionuclides present in low concentrations. Consequently, radionuclides may require separation prior to their identification and quantification, by using well-established radioanalytical methods such as ion-exchange or extraction chromatography. Less explored electrochemical separation methods using cheap carbon-based electrode materials could provide an alternative or complementary approach with distinct chemical selectivity. In previous studies, cathodic deposition was used to separate radionuclides of Ag, Sn, Sb, and Te from Co-60 containing samples. Even more efficient, however, would be the direct separation of Co-60, thereby reducing the Compton background in a single step. A possible approach to achieve this might be found in the tendency of a few metals to form poorly soluble oxide species at high oxidation states. Hence, this work explores anodic electrodeposition in a three-electrode flow-through electrolysis setup as a method for fast and selective separation of Co and other transition metals from aqueous solutions. Preliminary experiments with stable Co(II) in an acetate sulfate electrolyte resulted in separation efficiencies of > 80%. Further results and the applicability for background suppression in gamma-spectrometric measurements as well as the potential treatment of wastewater from NPPs will be discussed within this contribution.