Citrate based ``TALSPEAK`` lanthanide-actinide separation process

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10192716· OSTI ID:10192716

Del Cul, G D; Bond, W D; Toth, L M; Davis, G D; Dai, S; Metcalf, D H

The potential hazard posed to future generations by long-lived radionuclides such as the transuranic elements (TRU) is perceived as a major problem associated with the use of nuclear power. TRU wastes have to remain isolated from the environment for ``geological`` periods of time. The costs of building, maintaining, and operating a ``geological TRU repository`` can be very high. Therefore, there are significant economical advantages in segregating the relatively low volume of TRU wastes from other nuclear wastes. The chemical behavior of lanthanides and actinides, 4f and 5f elements respectively, is rather similar. As a consequence, the separation of these two groups is difficult. The ``TALSPEAK`` process (Trivalent Actinide Lanthanide Separations by Phosphorus-reagent Extraction from Aqueous Complexes) is one of the few means available to separate the trivalent actinides from the lanthanides. The method is based on the preferential complexation of the trivalent actinides by an aminopolyacetic acid. Cold experiments showed that by using citric acid the deleterious effects produced by impurities such as zirconium are greatly reduced.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 10192716
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-12785; ON: DE95002059
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Sep 1994
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RARE EARTHS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
ACTINIDES
CITRATES
MINIMIZATION
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
400105
052000
SEPARATION PROCEDURES
WASTE MANAGEMENT