Separation of actinides and lanthanides from acidic nuclear wastes by supported liquid membranes

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Solvent Extr. Ion Exch.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/07366298508918505· OSTI ID:5384362

Danesi, P R; Chiarizia, R; Rickert, P; Horwitz, E P

Supported liquid membranes, SLM, consisting of a solution of 0.25 M octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) and 0.75 M tributylphosphate (TBP) in decalin absorbed on thin microporous polypropylene supports, have been studied for their ability to perform selective separations and concentrations of actinide and lanthanide ions from synthetic acidic nuclear wastes. The permeability coefficients of selected actinides (Am, Pu, U, Np) and of some of the other major components of the wastes have been measured using SLMs in flat-sheet and hollow-fiber configurations. The results have shown that with the thin (25 ..mu..m) flat-sheet SLMs, using Celgard 2500 as support, the membrane permeation process is mainly controlled by the rate of diffusion through the aqueous boundary layers. With the thicker (430 ..mu..m) hollow-fiber SLMs, using Accurel hollow-fibers as support, the membrane permeation process is controlled by the rate of diffusion through both the SLM and the aqueous boundary layers. Hollow-fibers SLMs exhibited lower permeability coefficients and longer life-times. The experiments have shown that the actinides can be very efficiently removed from the synthetic waste solutions to the point that the resulting solution could be considered a non-transuranic waste (less than 100 mCi/g of disposed form). The work has demonstrated that actinide removal from synthetic waste solutions is a feasible chemical process at the laboratory scale level.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5384362
• Journal Information: Solvent Extr. Ion Exch.; (United States), Journal Name: Solvent Extr. Ion Exch.; (United States) Vol. 3:1-2; ISSN SEIED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105* -- Separation Procedures
ACTINIDES
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
DATA
ELEMENTS
ESTERS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PHOSPHINES
PHOSPHORIC ACID ESTERS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYPROPYLENE
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RARE EARTHS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TBP
WASTES