We are investigating the use of Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs) for the selective removal of important radioactive molecules in nuclear energy. By understanding the interaction of the adsorbed molecule with the tuned framework, we hope to design highly selective capture materials. We have been pursing the use of MOFs for two different target molecules: Iodine gas and Uranyl complexes.The adsorption of volatile gases resulted during nuclear fuel reprocessing represents an ongoing challenge. In spite of not being a major component of the off-gas resulted during this process, radioiodine is particularly challenging as it is a long-lived radionuclide (16 million years), it is mobile and it is known to cause metabolic reactions in humans. Our studies align with current investigations that utilize solid-state porous materials, such as silver-exchanged zeolites as benchmark compounds for iodine trapping. Results indicate that tuned MOFs sorb iodine selectively in the presence of water. Characterization information was derived from powder X-ray diffraction and synchrotron data via differential pair distribution function (d-PDF) studies. Complementary analysis with GCMC and MD simulations, SEM-EDS analysis, and TGA-MS have help understand the adsorption of the iodine into the MOFs.The mining of naturally-occurring uranium from seawater allows for the near limitless supply of nuclear fuel. We are investigating novel MOFs for the extraction of relevant uranyl anions from seawater. In particular, we (in collaboration with UCSC) are investigating positively charged frameworks, with anions in the pores or interlayer space. One MOF example will include the structural and sorption data used in a 25 mL suspension of actual seawater with 48% uptake of 3.33 ppb U after 1 hour, and 61% after 2 days.*Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin company, for the U.S. DOEs NNSA under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for nuclear applications

246th National Meeting (2013)

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