Described herein are processes and apparatus for the high purity and high concentration recovery of multivalent products via continuous ion exchange from aqueous solutions for further down-stream purification.

An apparatus for pretreating an ion exchange resin includes at least a stock solution tank for storing a non-aqueous solvent, an ion exchange resin container accommodating an ion exchange resin, and a moisture removal apparatus for removing moisture in the non-aqueous solvent, and at least one solution feed pipe selected from: a circulating solution feed pipe for returning, to the stock solution tank, the non-aqueous solvent that has passed through the ion exchange resin container and the moisture removal apparatus in this order from the stock solution tank; and a circulating solution feed pipe for returning, to the stock solution tank, the non-aqueous solvent that has passed through the moisture removal apparatus and the ion exchange resin container in this order from the stock solution tank.

An apparatus for pretreating an ion exchange resin includes at least a stock solution tank for storing a non-aqueous solvent, an ion exchange resin container accommodating an ion exchange resin, and a moisture removal apparatus for removing moisture in the non-aqueous solvent, and at least one solution feed pipe selected from: a circulating solution feed pipe for returning, to the stock solution tank, the non-aqueous solvent that has passed through the ion exchange resin container and the moisture removal apparatus in this order from the stock solution tank; and a circulating solution feed pipe for returning, to the stock solution tank, the non-aqueous solvent that has passed through the moisture removal apparatus and the ion exchange resin container in this order from the stock solution tank.

The present disclosure provides a process for polishing at least one metal contaminant from a stock solution comprising Sc comprising the steps of a) contacting the stock solution with an ion exchange resin capturing Sc and the at least one metal contaminate so as to produce a metal ion exchange resin complex, and b) scrubbing the metal resin complex with a scrubbing solution comprising a carboxylate ion, so as to produce a Sc ion exchange resin complex and a spent carboxylate solution, which can be treated by electrodialysis to regenerate the carboxylate ion required for scrubbing.

The present invention relates to a method of regenerating an ion exchange material loaded with chromate ions and nitrate ions in an ion exchange column, the method comprising subjecting the loaded ion exchange column to a regeneration sequence comprising the following steps: (i) passing a first salt solution through the column forming a first effluent solution; (ii) passing a second salt solution through the column to at least partially remove the chromate ions from the column forming a second effluent solution, wherein the second salt solution has a higher salt concentration than the first salt solution; (iii) passing a third salt solution through the column to at least partially remove nitrate ions from the column forming a third effluent solution, wherein the third salt solution has a salt concentration higher than the second salt solution.

The present invention relates to a method of regenerating an ion exchange material loaded with chromate ions and nitrate ions in an ion exchange column, the method comprising subjecting the loaded ion exchange column to a regeneration sequence comprising the following steps: (i) passing a first salt solution through the column forming a first effluent solution; (ii) passing a second salt solution through the column to at least partially remove the chromate ions from the column forming a second effluent solution, wherein the second salt solution has a higher salt concentration than the first salt solution; (iii) passing a third salt solution through the column to at least partially remove nitrate ions from the column forming a third effluent solution, wherein the third salt solution has a salt concentration higher than the second salt solution.

A method of stabilizing virgin ion exchange resin material is provided. The method includes rinsing virgin ion exchange resin material with deoxygenated water, introducing the rinsed virgin ion exchange resin material into a gas impermeable vessel and hermetically sealing the vessel. A vessel containing deoxygenated water and virgin ion exchange resin material is also provided. A method of facilitating water treatment in a site in need thereof by providing the gas impermeable vessel containing virgin ion exchange resin material and residual moisture from deoxygenated water is also provided.

A method of stabilizing virgin ion exchange resin material is provided. The method includes rinsing virgin ion exchange resin material with deoxygenated water, introducing the rinsed virgin ion exchange resin material into a gas impermeable vessel and hermetically sealing the vessel. A vessel containing deoxygenated water and virgin ion exchange resin material is also provided. A method of facilitating water treatment in a site in need thereof by providing the gas impermeable vessel containing virgin ion exchange resin material and residual moisture from deoxygenated water is also provided.

Described herein are processes and apparatus for the high purity and high concentration recovery of multivalent products via continuous ion exchange from aqueous solutions for further down-stream purification.

Submersible media filters and submersible columns for use in removing radioactive isotopes and other contaminants from a fluid stream, such as a fluid stream from the primary coolant loop of a nuclear reactor system or a fluid stream from a spent-fuel pool. Generally, these submersible media filters and submersible columns are adapted to be submersed in the fluid stream, and additionally the filters are adapted to be vitrified after use, resulting in a stabilized, non-leaching final waste product with a substantially reduced volume compared to the original filter. In several embodiments, the submersible media filters and submersible columns include isotope-specific media (ISM).