Sorption Treatment of Nitric Acid Solutions to Remove Tributyl Phosphate and Hexachlorobutadiene

The possibility of using the polymer sorbent Polysorb-1 for the treatment of nitric acid solutions to remove organophosphorus compounds, including tributyl phosphate (TBP) and hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), is studied. It is shown that decontamination of nitric acid solutions containing organophosphorus compounds, HCBD, U(VI), and Pu(IV) with Polysorb-1 sorbent under dynamic conditions allows reducing the phosphorus and HCBD content to ~2 mg/dm³ or less and to 0.05 mg/dm³ or less, respectively. In this case, sorption of U(VI) and Pu(IV) does not occur. The procedures of vacuum distillation and overheated steam stripping are described for regeneration of Polysorb-1 sorbent containing TBP and HCBD. The optimal process temperature was chosen to be 170°C.