Method for cleaning solution used in nuclear-fuel reprocessing. [DOE patent application]

Patent · Tue May 12 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5367122

Tallent, O K; Dodson, K E; Mailen, J C

A nuclear fuel processing solution containing: (1) hydrocarbon diluent; (2) tri-n-butyl phosphate or tri-2-ethylhexyl phosphate; and (3) monobutyl phosphate, dibutyl phosphate, mono-2-ethylhexyl phosphate, di-2-ethylhexyl phosphate, or a complex formed by plutonium, uranium, or a fission product thereof with monobutyl phosphate, dibutyl phosphate, mono-2-ethylhexyl phosphate, or di-2-ethylhexyl phosphate is contacted with silica gel having alkali ions absorbed thereon to remove any degradation products from said solution. The principal impurities removed from TBP solvent by the process of this invention are monobutyl phosphate, dibutyl phosphate, UO/sub 2//sup 2 +/, Pu/sup 4 +/, and fission products of plutonium and uranium complexed with monobutyl phosphate or dibutyl phosphate. Nitric acid is also removed from the TBP solution by the treated silica gel. Conventional adsorption column techniques are applicable for the process of the invention.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): None
• Application Number: ON: DE82011704
• OSTI ID: 5367122
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDE COMPLEXES
ADSORBENTS
ADSORPTION
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
COMPLEXES
DBP
ENERGY SOURCES
ESTERS
FISSION PRODUCTS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
IMPURITIES
INORGANIC ACIDS
ISOTOPES
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM HYDROXIDES
MATERIALS
NITRIC ACID
NUCLEAR FUELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORIC ACID ESTERS
PLUTONIUM COMPLEXES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REACTOR MATERIALS
RECYCLING
REMOVAL
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICA GEL
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SPENT FUELS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TBP
TRANSURANIUM COMPLEXES
URANIUM COMPLEXES
URANYL COMPLEXES