Emulsions stabilized by precipitates of zirconium and tributyl phosphate degradation products

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Nuclear Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5218343

Sugai, H; Munakata, K ^[1]; Miyachi, S; Yasu, S ^[2]

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1. Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd., Tokai Research Center 2600, Ishigamitojuku, Tokai-mura, Ibaraki-ken 319-11 (JP)
2. Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corp., Tokai Works Reprocessing Plant, Analysis Section, Tokai-mura, Ibaraki-ken 319-11 (JP)

In the Purex process, a solvent extraction method of nuclear fuel reprocessing, a stable emulsion called crud forms at the interface between the oil and water phases. This paper reports that crud is an emulsion stabilized by finely dispersed solids. Insoluble residues and precipitates of zirconium and radiation-degraded products of tributyl phosphate (TBP) are key materials in crud formation. Cruds formed by precipitates of zirconium and TBP degradation products, such as di-n-butyl phosphate (HDBP), mono-n-butyl phosphate (H{sub 2}MBP), and phosphoric acid (H{sub 3}PO{sub 4}) are studied. Experimental results show that the precipitate of zirconium and HDBP is not effective in stabilizing emulsions. However, the refractory complex of zirconium and H{sub 3}PO{sub 4} is an important material for stabilizing an oil-in-water emulsion in a solution with or without uranium. Moreover, it is shown that the complex of zirconium and H{sub 2}MBP has a significant role in stabilizing a water-in-oil emulsion, especially when uranium is also present.

• OSTI ID: 5218343
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Nuclear Technology; (United States) Vol. 98:2; ISSN NUTYB; ISSN 0029-5450
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDES
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ESTERS
EXTRACTION
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
INTERFACES
MATERIALS
METALS
MIXTURES
NUCLEAR FUELS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORIC ACID
PHOSPHORIC ACID ESTERS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PRECIPITATION
PUREX PROCESS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
STABILIZATION
TBP
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
URANIUM
WATER
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM PHOSPHATES