PROCESS FOR THE SELECTIVE SEPARATION OF A METAL CATION FROM AN AQUEOUS LIQUID MEDIUM

摘要

Method of the selective separation of a metal cation from an aqueous liquid medium containing, in which it performs the following successive steps: (a) is mixed with the aqueous liquid medium containing the metal cation with nanoparticles of at least one inorganic solid material of a metal cation exchanger and at least one foaming surfactant - the active agent, by means of which is obtained an aqueous mixture forming a first aqueous phase comprising the aqueous liquid medium containing the metal cation, a stable aqueous colloidal suspension of nanoparticles of at least one inorganic solid material of a metal cation exchanger, and the surfactant - the active agent; (b) a gas is injected into the aqueous mixture obtained at the end of step (a) so as to form a second phase formed by a foam comprising the surfactant and the nanoparticles in which is inserted selectively the metal cation, while the first aqueous phase is depleted in surfactant - active and in the metallic cation relative to the aqueous liquid mixture and thus forms a first aqueous phase decontaminated. The aqueous liquid medium can be chosen from among the liquids and the effluents coming from the industry and nuclear installations and activities implementing of the radionuclides, and the cation is in particular a cation of 134cs, or 137cs.