Status report of the first AMS laboratory in the Czech Republic at the Nuclear Physics Institute, Rez.

The first accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) laboratory in the Czech Republic has been established and put into routine operation in February 2022. Here we briefly describe the facilities available, namely a 300 kV multi-isotope low-energy AMS system (MILEA) capable of determination 10Be, 14C, 26Al, 41Ca, 129I, isotopes of U, especially 236U, Pu and other actinoids, and accessories for 14C measurements, which include a gas interface system, a preparative gas chromatography system for compound-specific radiocarbon dating analysis, and an isotope-ratio mass spectrometer. The first results achieved for separation and measurement of the above radionuclides (except for 41Ca) are also reported, with the main focus on 14C measurements. A specimen breakdown of 729 graphitised samples analysed for 14C so far is presented, as well as a proof of measurement stability of the MILEA system obtained by analysis of radiocarbon standards and analytical blanks. For the other radionuclides, well proven or novel procedures for sample preparation and measurement are presented.

The Removal of Pertechnetate from Aqueous Solution by Synthetic Hydroxyapatite: The Role of Reduction Reagents and Organic Ligands.

The use of knowledge from technetium radiochemistry (even from nuclear medicine applications) allows us to select an sorbent for 99mTc radionuclide sorption, which is hydroxyapatite. Using radioisotope indication, the 99mTcO4- sorption process on synthetic hydroxyapatite was studied by the batch method in the presence of SnCl2 and FeSO4 reducing agents. The complexing organic ligands' effect on the 99mTcO4- sorption under reducing conditions was investigated. In the presence of Sn2+ ions without the addition of organic ligand, the sorption percentage reached above 90% independently of the environment. In the presence of Fe2+ ions without the addition of organic ligand, the sorption of 99mTcO4- was significantly lower and was at approximately 6%, depending on the concentration of Fe2+ ions in solution. The effect of complexing organic ligands on the 99mTcO4- sorption on hydroxyapatite from the aqueous solution, acetate buffer and phosphate buffer decreases in the following order for Sn2+: oxalic acid > ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid > ascorbic acid. In the presence of Fe2+ ions without organic ligands, the sorption reached up to 15% depending on the composition of the solution. The addition of oxalic acid and ascorbic acid increased the sorption up to 80%. The ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid had no significant effect on the sorption of technetium on hydroxyapatite.

Isotherm, Kinetic, and Selectivity Studies for the Removal of 133Ba and 137Cs from Aqueous Solution Using Turkish Perlite.

The efficiency of 133Ba and 137Cs removal from aqueous solution is vital to mitigate ecological concerns over spreading these radionuclides in the environment. The present work focused on the use of Turkish perlite for the sorptive removal of 133Ba and 137Cs from aqueous solution by the radioindicator method. Perlite was characterized by XRF, XRD, FTIR, SEM−EDX, and BET analyses. The maximum percentage removals of 88.2% and 78.7% were obtained for 133Ba and 137Cs at pH 6 and pH 9, respectively. For both ions, the sorption equilibrium was attained relatively rapidly. Experimental kinetic data were well described with pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models. The uptake of both ions increased with the increase in metal concentration (1 × 10−5 to 5 × 10−2 mol/L) in solution. The maximum uptake capacities of 133Ba and 137Cs were found to be 1.96 and 2.11 mmol/g, respectively. The effect of competing ions decreased in the order of Ca2+>K+>Ni2+>Na+ for 133Ba sorption, whereas for 137Cs sorption, the order was determined as Ca2+>Ni2+>K+>Na+. Selectivity studies pointed out that sorption of 133Ba onto perlite is preferable to 137Cs. Therefore, Turkish perlite is a promising, cost-effective, and efficient natural material for the removal of 133Ba and 137Cs from relatively diluted aqueous solution.

Ion-Imprinted Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, and Adsorption of Radionuclides.

Growing concern over the hazardous effect of radionuclides on the environment is driving research on mitigation and deposition strategies for radioactive waste management. Currently, there are many techniques used for radionuclides separation from the environment such as ion exchange, solvent extraction, chemical precipitation and adsorption. Adsorbents are the leading area of research and many useful materials are being discovered in this category of radionuclide ion separation. The adsorption technologies lack the ability of selective removal of metal ions from solution. This drawback is eliminated by the use of ion-imprinted polymers, these materials having targeted binding sites for specific ions in the media. In this review article, we present recently published literature about the use of ion-imprinted polymers for the adsorption of 10 important hazardous radionuclides-U, Th, Cs, Sr, Ce, Tc, La, Cr, Ni, Co-found in the nuclear fuel cycle.

Pertechnetate/Perrhenate Surface Complexation on Bamboo Engineered Biochar.

The work deals with the evaluation of biochar samples prepared from Phyllostachys Viridiglaucescens bamboo. This evaluation consists of the characterization of prepared materials' structural properties, batch and dynamic sorption experiments, and potentiometric titrations. The batch technique was focused on obtaining basic sorption data of 88ᵐTcO4⁻ on biochar samples including influence of pH, contact time, and Freundlich isotherm. ReO4 -, which has very similar chemical properties to 88ᵐTcO4⁻, was used as a carrier in the experiments. Theoretical modeling of titration curves of biochar samples was based on the application of surface complexation models, namely, so called Chemical Equilibrium Model (CEM) and Ion Exchange Model (IExM). In this case it is assumed that there are two types of surface groups, namely, the so-called layer and edge sites. The dynamic experimental data of sorption curves were fitted by a model based on complementary error function erfc(x).

Surface Complexation Models of Pertechnetate on Biochar/Montmorillonite Composite-Batch and Dynamic Sorption Study.

The study summarizes the results of monitoring the properties of two types of sorbents, BC1 (biochar sample 1) and BC2a (biochar sample 2), prepared by pyrolysis of bamboo biomass (BC1) and as its composite with montmorillonite K10 (BC2a). The main goal was to study their applicability to the Tc (VII) separation from liquid wastes, using NH4ReO4 as a carrier. The research was focused on determining the sorbents surface properties (by XRF (X-ray fluorescence) method and potentiometric titration in order to determine the properties of surface groups-Chemical Equilibrium Model (CEM) and Ion Exchange Model (IExM) models were applied here). As well as monitoring Tc (VII) (+Re(VII)) sorption, especially to determine equilibrium isotherm, the influence of pH and kinetics. The subject of research was also the dynamics of sorption, including its mathematical-physical modeling. Both sorbents have good properties against Tc (VII), however BC2a, due to the presence of montmorillonite, is more advantageous in this respect. It has a higher sorption capacity and faster kinetic investigation. An important finding is that the optimal pH is 2-3, which is related not only to the protonation of surface groups (they have a positive charge), but also to the negative form of the existence of Tc (VII) and Re (VII): TcO4- and ReO4-.