Process for the separation of radioactive iodine compounds by precipitation

摘要

A process for the separation of radioactive iodine compounds by precipitation comprises adding 0.1 to 3 parts by weight of a reducing agent such as sodium sulphite of hydrogen sulphite and an effective amount of silver nitrate to 100 parts by weight of a liquid waste containing radioactive iodine compounds while keeping the liquid waste at a temperature ranging from 20 to 80 DEG C, and stirring the obtained mixture for 0.5 to 72 hours to precipitate the radioactive iodine compounds. Silver nitrate is preferably used in a molar concentration which is 1 to 4 times that of radioactive iodine molecules contained in the liquid waste. By this process, iodates which could not be precipitated by conventional methods can be effectively precipitated and separated thereby reducing the amount of radioactive iodine discharged to the environment.