Electrochemical Cs removal and crystal formation from Fukushima weathered biotite in molten NaCl-CaCl

Honda, Mitsunori   ; Goto, Takuya*; Sakanaka, Yoshihide*; Yaita, Tsuyoshi; Suzuki, Shinichi*

The possibility of removal and controlling crystal formation from weathered biotite (WB) in clay minerals were investigated using molten salt electrochemistry (EC) in molten NaCl-CaCl under an electrochemical reductive reaction. Cyclic Voltammogram (CV) measurements were performed in the range of +0.5 V to -2.2 V. Several peaks were confirmed in the CV spectra. The peak at -1.4 V represents a reduction reaction of Fe in WB, so we conducted an experiment at -1.4 V for 2 h to reduce Iron (Fe). The Cs removal rate after EC treatment was determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis, and almost 100% Cs removal was confirmed. To understand the effect of the reductive reaction, we performed X-ray Adsorption Fine Structure (XAFS) analysis. Before EC treatment, the Fe in WB was present as a mixture of Fe and Fe. After EC treatment, the presence of Fe was confirmed by XAFS analysis. Based on this finding, EC treatment is effective for reducing Fe in WB. This result indicated that FeO formation was suppressed, and the reduction reaction was effective for controlling crystal formation.