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SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF CESIUM BY DIPICRYLAMINE. III. SEMIWORKS DEMONSTRATION

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4718860
The extraction and recovery of cesium from simulated Purex waste solutions was successfully demonstrated in the pilot plant pulse column. Stable volumetric capacities as high as 670 gph/ft/sup 2/ (sum of both phases) were obtained for alkaline supernate-type waste; however, for efficient operation (transfer unit height - HTU -of two feet or less), the maximum throughput rate was limited to about 500 gph/ft/sup 2/. This rate could be achieved with feeds diluted to densities within 0.08 g/cc of the solvent density. Stable feed was prepared from simulated current, denitrated waste by addition of citric acid to complex the iron before neutralization to the desired operating pH of 7 to 8. Capacities of 500 gph/ft/sup 2/ were readily achieved with this feed, together with HTU's of 1.0 to 1.3 feet. Sodium extracted with the cesium was satisfactorily scrubbed from the solvent with a dilute citric acid solution. Scrub section sodium decontamination factors (DF's) as high as 200 were measured, but decontamination factors of 10 to 40 were more nearly typical. These scrub section DF's, coupled with the normal sodium DF of about 200 on extraction, gave overall sodiuna decontamination factors of 2,000 to 40,000. The overall potassium decontamination factors were 75 to 500, based on a very limited number of runs. Cesium was stripped from the solvent with 0.125 to 0.5 M HNO/sub 3/. Typical HTU's were in the range of 1.1 to 1.6 feet. The column capacity was in excess of 800 gph/ft/sup 2/. A packed column containing 3/4-inch stainless steel Raschig rings provided capacities at least as high as the pulse column; however, the efficiency, even with air sparge agitation, was considerably lower. The HTU's were generally about twice as great as obtained with the pulse column at comparable flow rates. (auth)
Research Organization:
General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
DOE Contract Number:
AT(45-1)-1350
NSA Number:
NSA-17-020098
OSTI ID:
4718860
Report Number(s):
HW-75447
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English