Removal of uranium by APG/TAS antifreeze foam detergent with high foaming property

The environmentally friendly antifreeze foam detergent was synthesized from the biomass-based surfactants alkyl polyglucoside (APG), tea saponin (TAS), waterborne polyurethane (WPU), tartaric acid (TA), and sodium chloride (NaCl) in order to remove radioactive contamination on the surface of nuclear emergency and decommissioning facilities in low temperature environment. Additionally, the composition of foam detergent was optimized by response surface methodology. The foaming, stability, wall-hanging property of antifreeze foam detergent and its decontamination properties of simulated radioactive pollution under low temperature environment were studied. The surface tension, viscosity, and wettability of antifreeze foam detergent and the decontamination mechanism at low temperature were analyzed. The results show that at the low temperature of − 10 ºC, the foaming multiple of the foam detergent is 14.37, the half-life is 44.43 min, and the wall-hanging time on the surface of vertical ceramic tile is 60 min. Within 30 min, the decontamination factors of simulated radioactive contamination on the surface of the glass, ceramic tile, stainless steel, and lacquered board by antifreeze foam detergent are 17.83, 12.82, 12.03, and 14.83, respectively. Environmentally friendly antifreeze foam detergent with high foaming property, outstanding wall-hanging property, and decontamination ability has broad application prospects in nuclear emergency and decommissioning of nuclear facilities in low temperature environments in winter. [Display omitted]