IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PLUTONIUM EXTRACTION

Patent · Mon Dec 23 04:00:00 EST 1963

OSTI ID:4124879

A process is given for obtaining concentrated Pu solutions in high purity and > 99.5% yield from dilute Pu solutions. The process comprises the following steps: extracting Pu from and aqueous HNO/sub 3/a solution of irradiated fuel containing Pu in the tetravalent state, using a solution of tertiary amine in an organic solvent; separating the organic phase and scrubbing it with an aqueous NHO/sub 3/ solution; and then extracting the Pu from the scrubbed organic phase with an aqueous acid solution having an acidity >0.1N and a redox potential sufficient to maintain the Pu in the tetravalent state. The solution used for the re-extraction is either H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/- HNO/sub 3/ or HClO/sub 4/, and this solution may be further scrubbed with an organic solution of tertiary amine. Several examples of this process are given using trilaurylamine. (D.L.C.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-18-006907
• OSTI ID: 4124879
• Report Number(s): GB 945184
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACIDITY
ALKYL RADICALS
AMINES
CATIONS
CHEMISTRY
EFFICIENCY
ENRICHMENT
FUELS
IRRADIATION
MIXING
NITRIC ACID
NUMERICALS
OPERATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PATENT
PERCHLORIC ACID
PERFORMANCE
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM NITRATES
QUANTITY RATIO
RECOVERY
REDUCTION
REPROCESSING
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SOLVENTS
SULFURIC ACID
USES
VARIATIONS
WATER