title: A study on stack configuration of continuous electrodeionization for removal of heavy metal ions from the primary coolant of a nuclear power plant.
abstract: This study investigated the production of high-purity water in the primary coolant of a nuclear power plant via the continuous electrodeionization (CEDI) process, using ion exchange resins as ion-conducting media between ion exchange membranes. The effectiveness of this method was examined with respect to the removal of heavy metals. The study was carried out on a laboratory scale with an effective area of 20 cm(2). The CEDI system was operated with a layered bed of cation exchange resins, anion exchange resins, and mixed-bed ion exchange resins. The stack configuration was designed to prevent a reaction between metal ions and hydroxide ions. The CEDI operation with the layered bed removed more than 99% of the ions at 30% of the current efficiency. The results showed that, with an inlet conductivity of 40 microScm(-1), a linear velocity of 4.17 cms(-1), and an applied current density of 17 mAcm(-2), the CEDI process yielded an outlet conductivity of 0.5 microScm(-1), thereby preventing the precipitation of metal ions. This study therefore successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the CEDI operation for the removal of heavy metals at a very low concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 1 Oryong dong, Buk gu, Gwangju 500-712, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeong-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yeon
authors.forename: Jung-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Seung-Hyeon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004867:Equipment Design; D007475:Ion Exchange Resins; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011210:Power Plants; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007475:Ion Exchange Resins; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014873:Water Pollutants