Combined Analytical and Experimental Studies of Iodine Uptake Materials (CAESIUM)

swissnuclear CAESIUM

The project aims to investigate gas-phase iodine retention in filtered containment venting systems (FCVS), specifically retention and potential releases of organic iodides. Both, analytical and experimental studies are carried out. The work provides insights on using silver-zeolites in a dry-filter stage foreseen downstream of wet-scrubber type FCVS. Existing experimental data for organic iodide retention in wet scrubbers are summarized with conclusions for the retention capacity under different operating conditions. Based on the information the release of iodine and their dispersion in the atmosphere is estimated. In experiments the capability of Ag-zeolites to retain organic iodides represented by methyl iodide (CH3I) is studied in small and medium lab-scale reactors at challenging conditions in the presence of high steam concentration and gas inhibitors (CO, H2, N2O). Finally, the retention and thermal stability of iodine on selected Ag-zeolites are investigated. The fundamental physical chemistry is addressed experimentally using fission iodine and aim to develop a simple model to describe the behavior.

Project duration 2022 - 2023 (prolonged until 2024)

Acknowledgment

CAESIUM is a research project partly supported by swissnuclear, the association of the Swiss nuclear power station operators.