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

摘要

Process for the selective separation of a metal cation from an aqueous liquid medium containing it in which the following successive steps are carried out: (a) mixing the aqueous liquid medium containing the metal cation with nanoparticles of at least one material inorganic solid exchanger of a metal cation and at least one foaming surfactant, whereby an aqueous mixture is obtained which forms a first aqueous phase comprising the aqueous liquid medium containing the metal cation, a stable aqueous colloidal suspension of nanoparticles with minus an inorganic solid material exchanging a metal cation, and the surfactant; (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 said surfactant and the nanoparticles into which the metal cation has been selectively inserted , while the first aqueous phase is depleted in surfactant and metal cation relative to the aqueous liquid mixture and thus forms a first decontaminated aqueous phase. The aqueous liquid medium can be selected from liquids and effluents from industry and nuclear facilities and activities using radionuclides and the cation is in particular a cation of 134Cs, or 137Cs.