Synthesis, characterization and radionuclide (137Cs) trapping properties of a carbon foam

Low-density carbon foam was synthesized from an aqueous acidic sucrose solution. The resin formed by heating this solution underwent foaming and set into a solid green foam which was sintered in the temperature range 573-1223 K. The green and the sintered foams were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. A thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with a mass spectrometer was used to study the thermal stability of green foam under an argon atmosphere in the temperature range 303-1273 K. The suitability of this carbon foam and a commercially available reticulated vitreous carbon for trapping radioactive Cs-137 was studied by a tracer technique in static sodium at 473 K. A NaI(Tl) detector was used to measure Cs-137 activity trapped by these materials. Trapping efficiency for Cs-137 and distribution coefficient of Cs-137 between sodium and the carbon foam were found to be in the range 73-77% and 4.9-6.0 x 10(2), respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.