Patent ID: 7663014

Claim:
A method for containing radionuclides from a radioactive chloride substance comprising the steps of: a. uniformly mixing a clay mineral with water to create an aqueous clay suspension; b. after the mixing, refining the aqueous clay suspension, resulting in a radionuclide containment composition; c. combining the radionuclide containment composition with the radioactive chloride substance to create an aqueous slurry and allow radionuclide exchange with the radionuclide containment composition; and d. adding a silver-based solution to the aqueous slurry, producing a suspension; and wherein the clay mineral consists of at least about 95% montmorillonite particles, with the remaining percentage consisting silica particles; and wherein the montmorillonite particles comprise: a. about 40% to about 75% foliated lamellar aggregates; b. about 10% to about 40% subhedral platelets and compact subhedral lamellar aggregates; and c. about 5% to about 10% subhedral lamellar aggregates.