WSRC-MS-2003-00789

ABSTRACT
Five cycles of loading, elution, and regeneration were performed to remove
technetium from a Hanford waste sample retrieved from Tank 241-AW-101 using
SuperLig* 639 resin. The waste sample was diluted to 4.95 M Na' and then was
processed to remove mCs through dual ion exchange columns each containing 15 mL of
SuperLig 644. To remove 99Tc, the cesium decontaminated solution was processed
downwards through two ion exchange columns, each containing 12 mL of SuperLig 639
resin. The columns, designated as lead and lag, each had an inside diameter of 1.45 cm
and a height of 30 cm. The columns were loaded in series, but were eluted and then
regenerated separately. The average technetium loading for the cycles was 250 BV at
10% breakthrough. There was no significant difference in the loading performances
among the five cycles. The percent removal of 99Tc was > 99.94% and the average
decontamination factor (DF) was ~ 1.7 x 103. Approximately 99% of the 99Tc loaded on
the resin was eluted with < 15 BV of de-ionized water at 65  C.

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