Evaluation of A Separation Process for Minor Actinides and Rare Earths using a Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phosphoric aicd

Eil-Hee Lee; Han-Beum Yang; Kwang-Wook Kim; Jae-Gwan Lim; Jae-Hyung Yoo

Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol.3, No.1, 39-45, March, 1997

Eil-Hee Lee , Han-Beum Yang, Kwang-Wook Kim , Jae-Gwan Lim, and Jae-Hyung Yoo

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Yusung P. O. Box 105, Taejon, 305-600, Korea

This study was carried out to find the optimal operating conditions for separation of minor actinides and rare earths, and to evaluate the validity of its flowsheet. The selected process was based on the solvent extraction by means of a di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid(DEHPA) followed by subsequent stripping steps. Four miniature mixer-settlers with a total of 44 stages were used as an extractor. More than 99% of Am, Np and rare earths were coextracted by 1M DEHPA/ n-dodecane. Am, RE, and Np could be selectively stripped into the aqueous phase from the organic phase by using the mixture of 0.05M DTPA and 1.5M lactic acid adjusted to pH 3.2, 6M HNO₃, and 0.5M H₂C₂O₄, respectively. In each step, more than 99% of Am, 97∼99.9% of rare earths and 98.2% of Np were also separated from one another. The Am and Np products, however, may require further purification because of impurities such as Fe, Mo, and Zr.

[References]

Cains PW, Marples JAC, Walmsley D, "A Review of Alternative Waste forms and Processes for Future Solidification of HLLW Waste," AERE/R 1130 (1986)
Bush RP, Mills AL, "Some Implication of the Partitioning of Actinides form HLLW," RECOD '94, London, U.K. (1994)
Song C, Glatz JP, He X, Bokelund H, Koch L, "Actinide Partitioning by Means of the TRPO Process," RECOD '94, London, U.K. (1994)
Madic C, Blanc P, Berthon L, "Actinide Partitioning from HLLW using the DIAMEX Process," RECOD '94, London, U.K. (1994)
Weaver B, TALSPEK Process, ORNL-3559 (1964)
Morita Y, Kubota M, "The Recovery of Np," JAERI-M 84-043 (1984)
Lee EH, Yang HB, Lim JK, Shin YJ, Yoo JH, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 6(4), 529 (1995)
Yang HB, Lee EH, Lim JK, Yoo JH, Park HS, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 7(1), 153 (1996)
Lee EH, Yang HB, Kim KK, Kim JK, Yoo JH, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 7(4), 707 (1996)
Lee EH, Hwang DS, Kim KW, Shin YJ, Yoo JH, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 6(3), 404 (1995)
Lee EH, Hwang DS, Kim KW, Shin YJ, Yoo JH, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 6(5), 882 (1995)
Posey JC, "Process of the Recovery of Cm-242 from Nuclear Waste," ORNL-6787 (1980)
Schulz WW, "DEHPA Extraction Recovery of Np and Pu from PUREX Acid Sludge Solution," BNWL-583 (1968)
Svantesson I, Hagstrom I, Persson G, Liljenzin JO, J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem., 42, 1037 (1980)
Morita Y, Fujiwara T, Shirahashi K, "DIDPA as an Extractant for Transmutation Elements," Global 1995, Versailles, France, 2, 1163 (1995)
Cheng WL, Lee CC, Chen CC, Ting G, Radiochim. Acta, 47, 69 (1989)
Apostolidis C, Glatz JP, Molinet R, "Recovery of MA from Irradiated SUPERFACT Fuels," Global 1995, Versailles, France, 2, 1027 (1995)
Facchin A, Moccia A, Nannicim R, "Evaluation of a Process Flowsheet for Long-Lived Radionuclide Partitioning," Global 1995, Versailles, France, 2, 1032 (1995)

[Referenced By]

[Related Articles]

[1] Cains PW, Marples JAC, Walmsley D, "A Review of Alternative Waste forms and Processes for Future Solidification of HLLW Waste," AERE/R 1130 (1986)

[2] Bush RP, Mills AL, "Some Implication of the Partitioning of Actinides form HLLW," RECOD '94, London, U.K. (1994)

[3] Song C, Glatz JP, He X, Bokelund H, Koch L, "Actinide Partitioning by Means of the TRPO Process," RECOD '94, London, U.K. (1994)

[4] Madic C, Blanc P, Berthon L, "Actinide Partitioning from HLLW using the DIAMEX Process," RECOD '94, London, U.K. (1994)

[5] Weaver B, TALSPEK Process, ORNL-3559 (1964)

[6] Morita Y, Kubota M, "The Recovery of Np," JAERI-M 84-043 (1984)

[7] Lee EH, Yang HB, Lim JK, Shin YJ, Yoo JH, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 6(4), 529 (1995)

[8] Yang HB, Lee EH, Lim JK, Yoo JH, Park HS, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 7(1), 153 (1996)

[9] Lee EH, Yang HB, Kim KK, Kim JK, Yoo JH, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 7(4), 707 (1996)

[10] Lee EH, Hwang DS, Kim KW, Shin YJ, Yoo JH, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 6(3), 404 (1995)

[11] Lee EH, Hwang DS, Kim KW, Shin YJ, Yoo JH, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 6(5), 882 (1995)

[12] Posey JC, "Process of the Recovery of Cm-242 from Nuclear Waste," ORNL-6787 (1980)

[13] Schulz WW, "DEHPA Extraction Recovery of Np and Pu from PUREX Acid Sludge Solution," BNWL-583 (1968)

[14] Svantesson I, Hagstrom I, Persson G, Liljenzin JO, J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem., 42, 1037 (1980)

[15] Morita Y, Fujiwara T, Shirahashi K, "DIDPA as an Extractant for Transmutation Elements," Global 1995, Versailles, France, 2, 1163 (1995)

[16] Cheng WL, Lee CC, Chen CC, Ting G, Radiochim. Acta, 47, 69 (1989)

[17] Apostolidis C, Glatz JP, Molinet R, "Recovery of MA from Irradiated SUPERFACT Fuels," Global 1995, Versailles, France, 2, 1027 (1995)

[18] Facchin A, Moccia A, Nannicim R, "Evaluation of a Process Flowsheet for Long-Lived Radionuclide Partitioning," Global 1995, Versailles, France, 2, 1032 (1995)