Removal of Radioiodine from Gas Streams by Electrolytic Scrubbing

Both molecular iodine and methyl iodide can be removed from air streams by electrolytic scrubbing using a solution of cobalt in dilute nitric acid. In a test system, 1350 ml/min of air containing 100 ppm CH₃I was contacted with 30 ml of 0.1 M Co—8 M HNO₃ in an anode compartment that had a current of 4 A; this resulted in a decontamination factor (DF) of ∼100 for iodine. A similar test using molecular iodine in air gave a DF of ∼600.