Fast Reduction of Iodine Species to Iodide

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a method to rapidly and efficiently convert hazardous volatile iodine species (such as molecular iodine, organic iodides, and iodate) in aqueous solutions into non-volatile and stable iodide ions. The process involves adding specific nucleophilic agents and soluble ion-exchangers, particularly using sodium thiosulphate and long-chain amines like trioctylmethylammonium chloride, to both reduce the iodine species and securely bind the resulting iodide ions, preventing them from re-converting into volatile and dangerous forms even under harsh conditions, such as irradiation and low pH.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Nuclear power plant accident management to prevent the release of radioactive iodine into the environment.
• Treatment of contaminated cooling water or process solutions during routine power plant maintenance or servicing.
• Decontamination of reactor components, turbine halls, or steam generator condensers where iodine contamination might occur.
• Mitigation of iodine emissions during venting or filtration events in reactor containments or pressure relief systems.
• Confinement and disposal of radioactive iodine waste after treatment to reduce environmental and health risks from radioactive releases.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly reduces the risk of releasing volatile radioactive iodine species into the environment, enhancing nuclear safety.
• Works across a wide range of temperatures and pH conditions, making it adaptable to various scenarios encountered in nuclear facilities.
• Prevents the re-oxidation of iodide back to harmful volatile forms, even under severe conditions like irradiation.
• Simplifies radioactive waste management by enabling efficient capture and subsequent filtration of iodine species.
• Enables rapid and efficient decontamination processes, supporting safe operation and maintenance of nuclear power plants.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

It is the aim of the present invention to generate a method and a database of results of suitable mixtures of additives in aqueous solution, which efficiently and rapidly: a) Reduce I 2 , RI and iodate to non-volatile iodide ions in a wide range of temperature and pH and, b) Effectively bind the iodide ions to prevent their potential re-oxidation to volatile iodine species especially at low pH and under irradiation. This objectives are achieved by a method for a retention of iodine species in an aqueous solution, comprising the steps of: a) adding a nucleophilic agent or a mixture of a plurality of nucleophilic agents to the aqueous solution; and b) adding a soluble ion-exchanger agent or a mixture of a plurality of soluble ion-exchanger agents to the aqueous solution. This method provides a new way to reduce iodate, molecular iodine and also organic iodides into non-volatile iodide ions and further to bind them to suppress re-generation of volatile iodines.