For nuclear power plants using a pressurized water reactor (PWR), the primary coolant includes boric acid as a water-soluble neutron absorber to control the nuclear reaction.1 Boron concentrations at the beginning of the fuel cycle may be as high as 2500 mg/L (ppm), corresponding to 1.4 percent boric acid. At the high temperature and pressure in the PWR, this boric acid concentration can form crud that deposits metal oxides on the fuel rods. To prevent crud buildup, lithium hydroxide is added to increase the pH300 °C to 6.9 or higher. However, trace anionic impurities at low- or sub-µg/L (ppb) concentrations from the water source (or materials such as ion-exchange polisher resins) can serve as catalysts for corrosion.<br/> <br/>A key application for minimizing corrosion in pressurized water reactors in nuclear power plants is the determination of inorganic anions and organic acids. The experimental approach combines a large volume direct injection, and tetraborate eluent produced with assistance of electrolytic eluent generation to analyze lithium borated water for fluoride, formate, chloride, and sulfate with the addition of a continuous regenerating cation trap column (CR-CTC III) to remove lithium and other cations from the sample. The presence of lithium can interfere the determination of fluoride.

Determination of organic acids & inorganic anions in lithium borated nuclear power plant waters using ion chromatography

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.