Glutarimidedioxime: A Complexing and Reducing Reagent for Plutonium Recovery from Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing

Journal Article · Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Angewandte Chemie (International Edition)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201510712· OSTI ID:1401193

Xian, Liang ^[1]; Tian, Guoxin ^[2]; Beavers, Christine M. ^[3]; Teat, Simon J. ^[3]; Shuh, David K. ^[4]

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1. Radiochemistry Department China Institute of Atomic Energy P. O. Box 275-26 Beijing 102413 China
2. Radiochemistry Department China Institute of Atomic Energy P. O. Box 275-26 Beijing 102413 China, Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
3. Advanced Light Source Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
4. Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA

Abstract Efficient separation processes for recovering uranium and plutonium from spent nuclear fuel are essential to the development of advanced nuclear fuel cycles. The performance characteristics of a new salt‐free complexing and reducing reagent, glutarimidedioxime (H ₂ A), are reported for recovering plutonium in a PUREX process. With a phase ratio of organic to aqueous of up to 10:1, plutonium can be effectively stripped from 30 % tributyl phosphate (TBP) in kerosene into 1  m HNO ₃ with H ₂ A. The complexation‐reduction mechanism is illustrated with the combination of UV/Vis absorption spectra and the crystal structure of a Pu ^IV complex with the reagent. The fast stripping rate and the high efficiency for stripping Pu ^IV , through the complexation‐reduction mechanism, is suitable for use in centrifugal contactors with very short contact/resident times, thereby offering significant advantages over conventional processes.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1401193
• Journal Information: Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), Journal Name: Angewandte Chemie (International Edition) Vol. 55 Journal Issue: 15; ISSN 1433-7851
• Publisher: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: English