Sorption Behaviour of Armenian Natural Zeolites

The sorptive behaviour of radioactive waste on Armenian zeolites, natural, irradiated, chemically treated and heated at high temperatures was studied and their capacity for the separation and enrichment of radionuclides was evaluated.

The influence of temperature, acidity, basicity, specific activity, electron and gamma irradiation on sorption have been studied. The chemical analysis of exchanged samples was carried out and the cation exchange capacity was determined. Absorption properties of mono-cationic forms of different clinoptilolite samples were studied depending on type of guest cation and contact time.

By means of model experiments the laboratory plant for absorption of metal cations from solutions in dynamic regime was designed and developed. This plant was used for experiments of radioactive waste removal from the Armenian nuclear reactor.