Aqueous solution of water soluble polymers for suppressing dust and fixating radio nucleotides

摘要

A composition for suppressing dust on the ground and fixating radio nucleotides eg from a nuclear accident, comprises an aqueous solution of a polymer containing pendant hydroxyl groups and a further polymer containing pendant carboxyl groups, together with an alkali metal salt also dissolved in the solution, the -OH containing polymer being dissolved in water at a concentration of 0.0001 - 1 M [based on monomer units], the -COOH group containing polymer being dissolved in water at a concentration of 0.0001 - 0.5 M [based on monomer units], and the alkali metal salt being dissolved in the overall composition at a concentration of 0.0001 - 0.2 M. Preferred polymers are PVA or polybutyl alcohol, and polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid. The preferred alkali metal salts are NaNOSB3/SB and KNOSB3/SB. The composition may be made by purifying the -OH polymer by dissolving in NaOH soln. and heating to form a gel, washing with distilled HSB2/SBO and methanol and drying at room temp. in the dark. The -COOH polymer is prepared by polymerising a carboxylic acid to form a gel, washing with distilled HSB2/SBO and diethyl ether and drying at room temp. The two polymers are then dissolved in water at the required concentration, mixed and the alkali metal salt added.