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Preparation of poly(methyl acrylate)/phosphate/composites and its possible use as storage medium for radioactive isotopes

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Abstract

The distribution of 137Cs, 152Eu, 238U, and 85Sr in a solid/aqueous system (poly(methyl acrylate)/phosphate/composite in contact with groundwater, was investigated using γ-Spectrometry and flourometry. The results were compared with earlier results with mineral phosphate in the solid phase. The effect of contact time, pH and the concentration of concurrent element were studied. The ability of the prepared polymer composites to keep the studied radioisotopes in the solid phase is much higher than mineral phosphate. The used polymer composites have been prepared consisting of natural phosphate powder and the monomer methyl acrylate using gamma irradiation. The yield of polymerization was followed up with respect to the irradiation dose using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). A thermomechanical analyzer (TMA) was used to locate the area of the glass transition temperatures (T g ) using the mode with alternative variable force; the mode with constant force was used to determine the T g of the pure polymer and the polymer composite prepared at the same irradiation dose. The T g of the pure poly(methyl acrylate) is 13 ± 3 °C, and the T g of poly(methyl acrylate)/phosphate/composites is 8 ± 3 °C. The T g were also determined using the DSC technique, and similar values were found.

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Abbreviations

As :

Activity of the solid phase after phase separation

Aw :

Activity of the liquid phase after phase separation

Conc.:

Concentration

Cs:

Cesium

Ds :

Element ratio in the solid phase

DSC:

Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Eff:

Efficiency

Eu:

Europium

FWHM:

Full Width at Half Maximum

h:

Hour

HPGe:

High purity Germanium

HPLC:

High Performance Liquid Chromatography

IAEA:

International Atomic Energy Agency

kGy:

Kilogray

mCi:

Millicurie

min:

Minute

MNSR:

Miniature Neutron Source Reactor

N:

Neutron

oC:

Degree Celsius

Sr:

Strontium

t:

Time

Tg :

Glass transition temperatures

TGA:

Thermogravimetric analyzer

TMA:

Thermomechanical analyzer

U:

Uranium

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Prof. I. Othman (D. G. of AECS) and Prof. T. Yassin for their encouragement. Our thanks are extended to A. Aqiel, A. Mougrabya, H. alkourdi and H. Koussa for their efforts during the experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polymer Technology Division, Radiation Technology Department, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, P.O. Box 6091, Damascus, Syria

    Z. Ajji

  2. Nuclear and Radiochemistry Division, Chemistry Department, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, P.O. Box 6091, Damascus, Syria

    O. Alhassanieh

Authors
  1. Z. Ajji
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  2. O. Alhassanieh
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Correspondence to O. Alhassanieh.

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Ajji, Z., Alhassanieh, O. Preparation of poly(methyl acrylate)/phosphate/composites and its possible use as storage medium for radioactive isotopes. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 287, 69–75 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-010-0690-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-010-0690-6

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