Krypton retention on solid adsorbents. [Activated alumina; hydrogen mordenite, silver mordenite, sodium mordenite, cerium mordenite-H, cerium mordenite-Na, potassium mordenite-H, potassium mordenite-Na]

An experimental laboratory program was conducted to develop economical solid adsorbents for the retention of krypton from a dissolver off-gas stream. The study indicates that a solid adsorbent system is feasible and competitive with other developing systems which utilize fluorocarbon absorption nd cryogenic distillation. This technology may have potential applications not only in nuclear fuel reprocessing plants, but also in nuclear reactors and in environmental monitoring. Of the 13 prospective adsorbents evaluated with respect to adsorption capacity and cost, the commercially available hydrogen mordenite was the most cost-effective material at subambient temperatures (-40/sup 0/ to -80/sup 0/C). Silver mordenite has a higher capacity for krypton retention, but is 50 times more expensive than hydrogen mordenite.