Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

The Removal of Fluoride Ions from Wastewater Produced During Uranium Recovery in Three Groups of Uranium Conversion Factory Scraps Using Chemical Precipitation Method

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

R Namaki
R Yavari
R Davarkhah
Sh Nezami
Abstract
In the present research work, high concentration amounts of fluoride ions in nuclear waste produced during uranium recovery from the three groups of uranium conversion factory scraps (C36, C37, 56P) were removed by the chemical precipitation method. In this method, calcium chloride due to its high solubility in water and lower sludge production in comparison with other compounds of calcium was used as a precipitant agent. The effects of different parameters such as: the type and concentration of coagulant, pH, the concentration ratio of calcium to fluoride, time and rate of stirrer, aging time and the temperature of precipitation on the removal of fluoride were optimized. The results show that the yield of fluoride removal in these samples relates to all of these parameters with the exception of temperature. In spite of the theoretical calculations, the amount of fluoride in final wastewater for C36, C37, 56P decreases to 3.6, 5.8 and 4.6 ppm, respectively, which can be released to the environment directly at a slight dilution. The results show that calcium chloride in the optimized conditions, is a suitable precipitant agent for the effective decrease of high concentration of fluoride in the real sample. Also, the performed experiment, by using the industrial grade calcium chloride product, shows the similar result which confirms the possibility of this method being used in industry.

Highlights

[1] S. Ghorai, K.K. Pant, Investigations on the column performance of fluoride, adsorption by activated alumina in a fixed-bed, Chem. Eng. J. 98 (2004) 165-173.

 

[2] S. Tripathy, J.L. Bersillon, K. Gopal, Removal of fluoride from drinking water by adsorption onto alum-impregnated activated alumina, Sep. Purif. Technol. 50 (2006) 310–317.

 

[3] L. Pietrelli, Fluoride wastewater treatment by adsorption onto metallurgical grade alumina, Annal. Di Chim. 95 (2005) 303–312.

 

[4] M.G. Ghanadi, Nuclear fuel cycle, Published in IRAN by Zolal kosar (1388) (In Persian).

 

[5] L.M. Camacho, A. Torres, D. Saha, S. Deng, Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of fluoride on sol–gel-derived activated alumina adsorbents, J. Colloid Interf. Sci. 349 (2010) 307–313.

 

[6] W. Nigussie, F. Zewge, B.S. Chandravanshi, Removal of excess fluoride from water using waste residue from alum manufacturing process, J. Hazard. Mater. 147 (2007) 954–963.

 

[7] Fluoride and Fluorine,” Environmental Health, Criteria 36, World Health Organization CENEVA, (1984).

 

[8] H. Lounici, L. Addour, D. Belhocine, H. Grib, S. Nicolas, B. Bariou, Study of a new technique for fluoride removal from water, Desalin. 114 (1997) 241–251.

 

[9] M. Hichour, F. Persin, J. Sandeaux, C. Gavach, Fluoride removal from water by Donnan analysis, Sep. Purif. Technol. 18 (2000) 1–11.

 

[10] Z. Amor, B. Bariou, N. Mameri, M. Toky, S. Nicolas, S. Elmidaoui, Fluoride removal from brackish water by electrodialysis, Desalin. 133 (2001) 215–223.

 

[11] E.J. Reardon, Y. Wang, A limestone reactor for fluoride removal from wastewaters, Environ. Sci. Technol. 24 (2000) 3247–3253.

 

[12] P. Sehn, Fluoride removal with extra low energy reverse osmosis membranes: three years of large scale field experience in finland, Desalin. 223 (2008) 73–84.

 

[13] A. Goswami, M.K. Purkait, Kinetic and equilibrium study for the fluoride adsorption using pyrophyllite, Sep. Sci. Technol. 46 (2011) 1–11.

 

[14] N. Kabay, O. Arar, S. Samatyra, M. Yuksel, Separation of fluoride from aqueous solution by electrodialysis: effect of process parameters and other ionic species, J. Hazard. Mater. 153 (2008) 107-113.

 

[15] K. Hu, J.M. Dickson, Nanofiltration membrane performance on fluoride removal from water, J. Membr. Sci. 279 (2006) 529-538.

 

[16] N. Drouiche, S. Aoudj, M. Hecini, N. Ghaffour, H. Lounici, N. Mameri, Study on the treatment of photovoltaic wastewater using electrocoagulation: fluoride removal with aluminiumelectrodes-characteristics of products, J. Hazard .Mater. 169 (2009) 65–69.

 

[17] M. Srimurali, A. Pragathi, J. Karthikeyan, A study on removal of fluorides from drinking water by adsorption onto low-cost materials, Environ. Pollut. 99 (1998) 285–289.

 

[18] S.K. Nath, R.K. Dutta, Significance of calcium containing materials for defluoridation of water: a review, Desalin. Water Treat. 53 (2015) 2070-2083.

 

[19] N. Parthasarathy, J. Buffle, W. Haerdi, Combined use of calcium salts and polymeric aluminium hydroxide for defluoridation Combined use of calcium salts and polymeric aluminium hydroxide for defluoridation of waste waters Combined use of calcium salts and polymeric aluminium hydroxide for defluoridation of waste waters Combined use of calcium salts and polymeric aluminium hydroxide for defluoridation of waste waters of waste waters, Water Res. 20 (1986) 443-452.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[20] H. Kurosaki, Reduction of fluorine-containing industrial waste using aluminum-solubility method, Oki Denki Kenkyu Kaihatsu (1997).

 

[21] B. Turner, P. Binning, S.L.S. Stipp, Fluoride removal by calcite: evidence for fluorite precipitation and surface adsorption, Environ. Sci. Technol. 39 (2005) 9561-9568.

 

[22] M.F. Chang, J.C. Liu, Precipitation Removal of fluoride from semiconductor wastewater, J. Environ. Eng. 133 (2007) 419-425.

 

[23] A. khayambashi, the removal of fluoride from UCF evaporation pools scraps, Dissertation for Master of Science, Sharif University (1392) (In Persian).

 

[24] G.D. Christian, Analytical chemistry, New York: John Wiley & Sons. Inc (1994).

 

[25] C.J. Huang, J.C. Liuprecipitate, Flotation of fluoride-containing, wastewater from a semiconductor manufacturer, Wat. Res. 33 (1999) 3403-3412.

 

[26] M.F. Chang, J.C. Liu, Precipitation removal of fluoride from semiconductor waste water, J. Environ. Eng. 133 (2007) 419–425.

 

[27] G. Charlot, Les reactions chimiques en solution aqueuse. Paris: Masson et Cie (1983).

 

[28] B. Tremillon, Chimie analytique. Generalites. Paris: Libraire Armand Colin (1965).

Keywords

Fluoride
Chemical Precipitation
Calcium Chloride
Polyaluminium Chloride
Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode
[1] S. Ghorai, K.K. Pant, Investigations on the column performance of fluoride, adsorption by activated alumina in a fixed-bed, Chem. Eng. J. 98 (2004) 165-173.
 
[2] S. Tripathy, J.L. Bersillon, K. Gopal, Removal of fluoride from drinking water by adsorption onto alum-impregnated activated alumina, Sep. Purif. Technol. 50 (2006) 310–317.
 
[3] L. Pietrelli, Fluoride wastewater treatment by adsorption onto metallurgical grade alumina, Annal. Di Chim. 95 (2005) 303–312.
 
[4] M.G. Ghanadi, Nuclear fuel cycle, Published in IRAN by Zolal kosar (1388) (In Persian).
 
[5] L.M. Camacho, A. Torres, D. Saha, S. Deng, Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of fluoride on sol–gel-derived activated alumina adsorbents, J. Colloid Interf. Sci. 349 (2010) 307–313.
 
[6] W. Nigussie, F. Zewge, B.S. Chandravanshi, Removal of excess fluoride from water using waste residue from alum manufacturing process, J. Hazard. Mater. 147 (2007) 954–963.
 
[7] Fluoride and Fluorine,” Environmental Health, Criteria 36, World Health Organization CENEVA, (1984).
 
[8] H. Lounici, L. Addour, D. Belhocine, H. Grib, S. Nicolas, B. Bariou, Study of a new technique for fluoride removal from water, Desalin. 114 (1997) 241–251.
 
[9] M. Hichour, F. Persin, J. Sandeaux, C. Gavach, Fluoride removal from water by Donnan analysis, Sep. Purif. Technol. 18 (2000) 1–11.
 
[10] Z. Amor, B. Bariou, N. Mameri, M. Toky, S. Nicolas, S. Elmidaoui, Fluoride removal from brackish water by electrodialysis, Desalin. 133 (2001) 215–223.
 
[11] E.J. Reardon, Y. Wang, A limestone reactor for fluoride removal from wastewaters, Environ. Sci. Technol. 24 (2000) 3247–3253.
 
[12] P. Sehn, Fluoride removal with extra low energy reverse osmosis membranes: three years of large scale field experience in finland, Desalin. 223 (2008) 73–84.
 
[13] A. Goswami, M.K. Purkait, Kinetic and equilibrium study for the fluoride adsorption using pyrophyllite, Sep. Sci. Technol. 46 (2011) 1–11.
 
[14] N. Kabay, O. Arar, S. Samatyra, M. Yuksel, Separation of fluoride from aqueous solution by electrodialysis: effect of process parameters and other ionic species, J. Hazard. Mater. 153 (2008) 107-113.
 
[15] K. Hu, J.M. Dickson, Nanofiltration membrane performance on fluoride removal from water, J. Membr. Sci. 279 (2006) 529-538.
 
[16] N. Drouiche, S. Aoudj, M. Hecini, N. Ghaffour, H. Lounici, N. Mameri, Study on the treatment of photovoltaic wastewater using electrocoagulation: fluoride removal with aluminiumelectrodes-characteristics of products, J. Hazard .Mater. 169 (2009) 65–69.
 
[17] M. Srimurali, A. Pragathi, J. Karthikeyan, A study on removal of fluorides from drinking water by adsorption onto low-cost materials, Environ. Pollut. 99 (1998) 285–289.
 
[18] S.K. Nath, R.K. Dutta, Significance of calcium containing materials for defluoridation of water: a review, Desalin. Water Treat. 53 (2015) 2070-2083.
 
[19] N. Parthasarathy, J. Buffle, W. Haerdi, Combined use of calcium salts and polymeric aluminium hydroxide for defluoridation Combined use of calcium salts and polymeric aluminium hydroxide for defluoridation of waste waters Combined use of calcium salts and polymeric aluminium hydroxide for defluoridation of waste waters Combined use of calcium salts and polymeric aluminium hydroxide for defluoridation of waste waters of waste waters, Water Res. 20 (1986) 443-452.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[20] H. Kurosaki, Reduction of fluorine-containing industrial waste using aluminum-solubility method, Oki Denki Kenkyu Kaihatsu (1997).
 
[21] B. Turner, P. Binning, S.L.S. Stipp, Fluoride removal by calcite: evidence for fluorite precipitation and surface adsorption, Environ. Sci. Technol. 39 (2005) 9561-9568.
 
[22] M.F. Chang, J.C. Liu, Precipitation Removal of fluoride from semiconductor wastewater, J. Environ. Eng. 133 (2007) 419-425.
 
[23] A. khayambashi, the removal of fluoride from UCF evaporation pools scraps, Dissertation for Master of Science, Sharif University (1392) (In Persian).
 
[24] G.D. Christian, Analytical chemistry, New York: John Wiley & Sons. Inc (1994).
 
[25] C.J. Huang, J.C. Liuprecipitate, Flotation of fluoride-containing, wastewater from a semiconductor manufacturer, Wat. Res. 33 (1999) 3403-3412.
 
[26] M.F. Chang, J.C. Liu, Precipitation removal of fluoride from semiconductor waste water, J. Environ. Eng. 133 (2007) 419–425.
 
[27] G. Charlot, Les reactions chimiques en solution aqueuse. Paris: Masson et Cie (1983).
 
[28] B. Tremillon, Chimie analytique. Generalites. Paris: Libraire Armand Colin (1965).

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