Multiscale Evaluation of Acetohydroxamic Acid (AHA) Radiolysis Under Used Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Solvent System Conditions

Conference · Fri Jan 14 04:00:00 EST 2022

OSTI ID:1968427

Horne, Gregory P ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Laboratory

Acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) has been proposed as an alternative agent for the selective separation of plutonium and neptunium from co-extracted uranium during the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel. However, the fundamental radiolytic behavior of this molecule under envisioned process conditions – i.e., acidic biphasic solvent systems – is not sufficiently understood to support process applications. Here we present a systematic irradiation study (steady-state gamma and time-resolved pulsed electron) into the radiolytic integrity of AHA and formation of degradation products in aqueous nitric acid (HNO3) solutions (0.2 M) in presence and absence of an organic phase, comprising current (tri-butyl phosphate - TBP) and future (N,N-di-(2-ethylhexyl)butyramide - DEHBA and di-2-ethylhexylisobutyramide - DEHiBA) reprocessing ligands dissolved in n-dodecane diluent. Experimental data are complimented by predictive multiscale model calculations for the elucidation of underpinning mechanisms.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 1968427
• Report Number(s): INL/CON-21-65479-Rev000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
Acetohydroxamic Acid
Gamma Radiolysis
Multiscale Modeling
Pulsed Electron Radiolysis