METHOD OF TREATING ALKALINE SOLUTIONS CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE IODINE DURING THE REPROCESSING OF NUCLEAR FUELS

摘要

The method of processing alkaline solutions containing radioactive iodine consists in dissolving irradiated fuels in a nitric acid solution. The vapors constituted essentially by nitrogen oxides, iodine and water formed during dissolution are passed into a condenser and then into a first absorption column in which the recombined nitric acid is formed. The recombined acid is returned to the dissolver while the gases discharged from the first absorption column are passed into a second absorption column in counterflow to an alkaline solution which is loaded with iodine and with nitrous ions. The alkaline solution discharged from the second absorption column is passed into a reaction vessel containing a mixture of nitric acid and sulphamic acid which destroys the nitrous products and releases the iodine.