A new granular composite with high selectivity for cesium ion prepared from phosphomolybdic acid hydrate and inorganic porous material

Ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP) was incorporated in the porous alumina matrix (JA) by successive impregnation with H₃Mo₁₂O₄₀P and NH₄NO₃. The loading percentage of AMP crystals on JA increased with the repetition times of impregnation. The distribution coefficients of Cs⁺ on AMP-loaded granular composite (JAAMP) was above 10⁴ cm³/g in the presence of 1 mol/dm³ H⁺, while those of other nuclides were less than 10, indicating high selectivity of JAAMP to Cs⁺. The separation factor of ¹³⁷Cs to other nuclides (⁸⁵Sr, ⁶⁰C0, ¹⁵²Eu, ²⁴¹Am, ²²Na) (α(Cs/Sr;Co;Eu;Am;Na) = K(d,Cs)/K(d,Sr;Co;Eu;Am;Na) was estimated to be above 10³. The breakthrough curve for Cs⁺ through the column packed with JAAMP exhibited a symmetrical S-shaped profile, and this exchanger proved to be effective for the selective isolation of radiocesium from a simulated high-level liquid waste.