Nuclear Waste Reduction Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Joe Nero¹ and Jon Bartczak^1,

¹University of Pittsburgh, USA

Cite this paper:
Joe Nero and Jon Bartczak. Nuclear Waste Reduction Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers. Journal of Polymer and Biopolymer Physics Chemistry. 2014; 2(2):29-36. doi: 10.12691/jpbpc-2-2-1

Abstract

Nuclear power accounts for just over twenty percent of America’s electrical output and does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, nuclear power does produce a deleterious by-product known as radioactive waste. One of the primary goals of nuclear power proponents is the development of methods that reduce the volume of radioactive waste, such as cobalt. Radioactive cobalt is usually accompanied by non-radioactive iron, making it more difficult to solely extract the harmful cobalt atoms. The application of molecularly imprinted polymers and chitosans increase the effectiveness of the removal of radioactive cobalt from cooling medium in order to reduce the overall volume of nuclear waste by having a high selectivity for the radioactive cobalt ions even in the presence of similar particles. This method’s efficacy will be analyzed and compared to the current procedures for removing radioactive cobalt from cooling medium. A relevant explanation of a nuclear reactor’s inner workings, radioactive waste formation, along with societal implications of cleaner nuclear power, and the benefits of its successful implementation, will also be discussed.

Keywords:
half-life molecular imprinting nuclear power nuclear waste radiation

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	P. Hodgeson. (2008, October). “Nuclear Power and the Energy Crisis.” First Principles. [Online.] Available: http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=1110&loc=qs.
[2]	P. Hodgeson. (2008, October). “The Energy Crisis” First Principles. [Online.] Available: http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=1080&loc=fs.
[3]	M. Jason. (2012, Feb 10). “Energy Density and Waste Comparison of Energy Production.” Nuclear Fissionary. [Online Article]. Available: http://nuclearfissionary.com/2010/06/09/energy-density-and-waste-comparison-of-energy-production/
[4]	J. Wiley. “Nuclear Fission Basics” [Online]. http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/nuclear-fission-basics.html.
[5]	B. Cohen. (2012, March). “Risks of Nuclear Power.”
[6]	A. Bhaskarapillai, S. Narashima, B. Sellergren. (2009, April). “Synthesis and Characterization of Imprinted Polymers for Radioactive Waste Reduction.” Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. [Online]. Available: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=17&sid=cee5d4a5-7e9c-451f-aa38-0a613f704e9c%40sessionmgr12&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=37374694
[7]	D. D. Ebbing, S. D. Gammon. (2009). General Chemistry: Ninth edition. Belmont, Ca: Brooks/Cole. Page 821-857.
[8]	(2011, August). “Radiation Basics.” Health Physics Society. [Online]. Available: http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/radiation.html.
[9]	(2012, January 22). “Nuclear Dawn.” The Economist [Online]. Available: http://www.economist.com/node/9719029.
[10]	A. Martin-Esteban. (2010, September). “Molecular Imprinting.” Sciverse. [Online]. http://www.scitopics.com/Molecular_Imprinting.html
[11]	“Polymer Structure” Case Western Reserve University. [Online]. Available: http://plc.cwru.edu/tutorial/enhanced/files/polymers/struct/struct.htm.
[12]	N. Lemcoff, S. Zimmerman. (2004, May). “Synthetic Hosts Via Molecular Imprinting—are Universal Synthetic Antibodies Realistically Possible?” Chem. Comm. [Online]. Available: http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/Journals/cc/article.asp?Type=Issue&Journalcode=CC&Issue=1&SubYear=2004&Volume=0&Page=0&GA=on.
[13]	D. Blauch. (2009). “Elemental Analysis: Carbon and Hydrogen.” Davidson College. [Online]. Available: http://www.chm.davidson.edu/vce/stoichiometry/ch.html.
[14]	B. Tissue. (2012, March). “Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.” Virginia Technical Institute. [Online]. Available: http://www.files.chem.vt.edu/chem-ed/spec/atomic/aa.html
[15]	S. Luca. “Flame Photometry.” Standard Base. [Online]. Available: http://www.standardbase.com/tech/FinalHUTechFlame.pdf.
[16]	(2008) “Chain-Growth Polymerization.” Steinwall Inc. [Online]. Available: http://www.steinwall.com/ART-chain-growth-polymerization.html.
[17]	N. Abdul, B. Anupkumar, V. Sankaralingam, N. Sevilimedu. (2012, March). “Cobalt Imprinted Chitosan for Selective Removal of Cobalt During Nuclear Reactor Decontamination.” Carbohydrate Polymers. [Online]. Available: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=6&hid=107&sid=a55a330c-edfa-4024-a955-9e59f81bc796%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=70039845.
[18]	A.Azapagic, C. Greenhalgh. (2009, December). “Review of Drivers and Barriers for Nuclear Power in the UK.” Environmental Science and Policy. [Online]. Available: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901109000987.
[19]	L. Warren. (1998, September). “Public Perception of Radioactive Wastes.” Interdisciplinary Science Revies. [Online]. Available: https://sremote.pitt.edu/content/maney/isr/1998/00000023/00000003/,DanaInfo=www.ingentaconnect.com+art00004?token=003f13882d47b76504c48663b252c232b6c533142595e6a333f257666954838.