Review

  • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
  • Volume 16(2); 2018
  • Article

Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology 2018;16(2):173-182. Published online: Jun, 30, 2018

PDF Citation

DOI : doi.org/10.7733/jnfcwt.2018.16.2.173

Effect of Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide on Foam Stability and SiO2 Separation for Decontamination Foam Application

  • Mansoo Choi, Seung-Eun Kim, In-Ho Yoon, Chong-Hun Jung, Wang-Kyu Choi, Jei-Kwon Moon, Seon-Byeong Kim
Abstract

As part of planning for waste minimization, decontamination foam has been considered as a potential application for the cleaning of radioactive contaminant. In this study, we synthesized silica particles to improve foam stability by varying synthesis parameters. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was found to influence the stability of the decontamination foam. The reason was that higher interaction between SiO2 nanoparticles and surfactant at the air-water interface in aqueous solution is beneficial for foam stability. CTAB can also be used as an additive for the aggregation of silica nanoparticles. In the separation of SiO2 nanoparticles, CTAB plays a critical role in the nanoparticles flocculation because of the charge neutralization and hydrophobic effects of its hydrocarbon tails.

Keywords

Decontamination foam,Foam stability,SiO2,Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide,Silica separation