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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CERTAIN COMPLEXES OF RUTHENIUM, NIOBIUM, ZIRCONIUM AND URANIUM IN PLANT PROCESSES

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4289746

Solutions of fuels in nitric acid may contain a variety of ruthenium species, and methods for their identification and estimation in such solutions are presented. On the basis of laboratory investigations, the significance of the various species in solvent extraction processes (e.g., with dibutyl carbitol or tributyl phosphate as the solvent) and in related processes such as effluent treatment by precipitation, or by evaporation, are assessed and discussed. The complexing of uranium, zirconium, and niobium by tributyl phosphate and its degradation products arising from radiolysis or from hydrolysis has been examined and implications drawn as to the manner in which the formation of such complexes can affect zirconium and niobium decontamination factors in TBP separation processes. (auth)

Research Organization:
Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
NSA Number:
NSA-13-006498
OSTI ID:
4289746
Report Number(s):
A/CONF.15/P/31
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English