Column Optimization Studies

Abstract

Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) is assisting Babcock and Wilcox Technical Services Group (BWTSG) in their efforts to develop an aqueous homogenous reactor (AHR) for the production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99). Several different titania-based sorbents and alumina have been investigated as potential candidates for the development of a separation and recovery column for Mo-99 from a uranyl nitrate solution. A pure titania sorbent with 80-μm particles and 60-Å pores (S80) was initially chosen for the plant-scale column. However, ZirChrom Separations, Inc., discontinued their Sachtopore (pure titania) sorbent with 80-μm particles and 60-Å pores. As a result, Argonne has tested several other Sachtopore sorbents with different particle and pore sizes in an effort to find a replacement for S80. Initial Versatile Reaction Separation (VERSE) column designs suggest that S40 is the best replacement for S80; however, experimental results show that a significant amount of Mo does not adsorb on the S40 sorbent. S110 performs much better than S40, and the S110 column designs are final designs for the plant-scale operation and the mini- Medical Isotope Production System (mini-MIPS).