Synthesis and characterization of iodovanadinite using PdI, an iodine source for the immobilisation of radioiodine

Johnstone, E. V.*; Bailey, D. J.*; Lawson, S.*; Stennett, M. C.*; Corkhill, C. L.*; Kim, M.*; Heo, J.*; Matsumura, Daiju   ; Hyatt, N. C.*

The synthesis of a palladium-containing iodovanadinite derivative, hypothetically "PdPb(VO)I", was attempted using PdI as a source of iodine in searching for a novel waste form for radioiodine. The resulting products were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and Pd K XANES. Results showed that PdI can function as a sacrificial iodine source for the formation of iodovanadinite, prototypically Pb(VO)I, however, the incorporation of Pd into this phase was not definitively observed. Overall, the key novelty and importance of this work is in demonstrating a method for direct immobilisation of undissolved PdI from nuclear fuel reprocessing, in a composite wasteform in which I-129 is immobilised within a durable iodovandinite ceramic, encapsulating Pd metal.