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U.S. Department of Energy
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IMPROVEMENT IN DECONTAMINATION OF AQUEOUS ACIDIC SOLUTIONS CONTAINING PLUTONIUM AND FISSION PRODUCT VALUES BY PROVIDING CEROUS AND/OR MERCURIC IONS THEREIN PRIOR TO A BISMUTH PHOSPHATE CARRIER PRECIPITATION

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4004990

A bismuth phosphate carrier precipitation process is patented for separating plutonium from fission products. Purification of plutonium is accomplished by precipitating bismuth phosphate in the presence of quadrivalent plutonium, thereby carrying plutonium from soluble fission products, and in another step precipitating bismuth phos phate in the presence of hexavalent plutonium, thereby carrying insoluble fission products from plutonium. Cerous ions are added to the solution containing Pu>s4/sup > /d mercuric ions are added to the solution containing Pu>s6/sup > /ior to precipitation thereby enhancing the separation.

Research Organization:
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
NSA Number:
NSA-15-019477
Assignee:
DTIE; NSA-15-019477
Patent Number(s):
US 2990241
OSTI ID:
4004990
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English