M.Sc. (Chemistry) / The storage as solid Ag12BI(s) of reactor produced 12BI (t~ = 1.6 x 107 a) in underground respositories can present an environmental problem due to the potential release of radioactive 12BI into the environment over extended storage periods. One process that causes concern is the solubilization of AgI through complexation when brought into contact with underground water, particularly those with high salt content. In this work the charaqterization of the complexation equilibria in the AgI(s)/I-(aq),CI-(aq) system was studied. Solu- I tions containing high CI- and low 1- concentrations were of special interest with regard to the possible formation of ternary complexes. The presence of AgICI22- was indicated experimentally but no evidence of other ternary species like AgI2CI2- or AgIsCIS- could be established. Solubilities were determined radiochemically by using specially prepared 110mAgI. Solubility curves for AgI in different I-/CI- mixtures were adequately explained in terms of models consisting of the species AgCls2-, AgC14S-, AgIs2-, AgI4s- and AgICI22-. Distribution curves were calculated for different I-/CI- mixtures. As an alternative detection mode for silver-determination a flow injection system incorporating a micro-column of activated alumina was used in conjuntion with flame atomic absorption spectrometry for the pre-concentration and determination of silver in water. The procedure was successfully applied to a range of water samples, but no determination of silver in halide or perchlorate media was possible. The limit of detection based on a sample volume of 15 cms was 4.5 ~gdm-3 and the relative standard deviations at 50 and 5 ~gdm-3 were 5.4 and 19%, respectively. In part B of this work a method for the determination of chloride in organic compounds (oils provided by the Atomic Energy Corporation) by using an Parr oxygen bomb and ion chromatography was studied. The combustion products were absorbed in H20. The solution was injected into an ion chromatograph equipped with an anion analytical column, membrane suppressor and conductivity detector. The instrument response was calibrated using different standard solutions. These were prepared from several organic solutions, an organic salt and from sodiumchloride. Calibration curves were linear over a wide range and presented good reproducibility. It differed however according to the type of standard solution used. The limit of detection was 255 ~gdm-3 and the relative standard deviations at 10, 1 and 0.5 ugcm-3 were 0.52, 1.64 and 3.5%, respectively. As an alternative decomposition method wet decomposition within a sealed system (autoclave) was used. Due to the high blank values in this method no analysis of substances could be made in the lower ugcm-3 range.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:4311 |
| Date | 12 March 2014 |
| Creators | Taljaard, Immanda |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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