Preparation and performance study of the self-embrittle composite detergent for radioactive decontamination

BackgroundAs a new decontamination approach, the self-embrittle decontamination technology is that the membrane will crack and peel off naturally to achieve the purpose of decontamination after the decontamination agent membrane adsorbs pollutants.PurposeThis study aims to prepare several surface radioactive decontaminants and analyze their performance of decontamination.MethodsThe composite detergent with the self-embrittle function was prepared by compounding nano-SiO2 modified with γ-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane with random copolymer P(MMA-co-MAA-co-HFBMA) emulsion. The structure and properties of the composite emulsion were analyzed using infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).ResultsObserved results show that the control of the self-embrittle morphology of the detergent can be realized by adjusting the ratio of MMA/MAA in the random copolymer. When MMA/MAA/HFBMA=7/5/0.1, the detergent has the good self-brittleness and forms uniformly sized and moderately sized embrittle flakes on the surface of the material, which facilitates subsequent collection and processing. And the decontamination rate of simulated radioactive fallout ash (mixed with elemental K) is greater than 95%.ConclusionsThe composite detergent with the self-embrittle function prepared in this study demonstrates good decontamination effects.