Review of recent ORNL studies in solvent cleanup and diluent degradation. Consolidated Fuel-Reprocessing Program

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6860586

Mailen, J C; Tallent, O K

Testing of solvent cleanup methods to replace the use of sodium carbonate in the Purex process has been ongoing for several years in order to reduce the quantity of waste sodium nitrate generated and to improve phase separation. Alternate solvent cleanup methods include the use of packed columns of base-treated silica gel or solvent scrubbing with hydrazine oxalate. Degradation of the diluent was shown to generate long-chain organic acids which appear to be the major culprits in the phase separation problems encountered in sodium carbonate scrubbers. Solvent scrubbing with hydrazine oxalate gives improved phase separations. Solvent cleanup in columns packed with base-treated silica gel avoids the phase separation problem since a dispersable aqueous phase is not present. Removals of TBP degradation products and metal-ion complexes by sodium carbonate, hydrazine salts, or by packed beds of base-treated silica gel are all satisfactory. Solvent scrubbing by hydrazine oxalate solutions is the prime candidate for solvent cleanup in fuel reprocessing plants.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6860586
• Report Number(s): CONF-821056-8; ON: DE83001882
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ADSORBENTS
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONSOLIDATED FUEL REPROCESSING PROGRAM
COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS
DECOMPOSITION
ESTERS
HYDRAZINE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
OXALATES
PACKED BED
PHOSPHORIC ACID ESTERS
PUREX PROCESS
REPROCESSING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SCRUBBING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICA GEL
SOLVENTS
TBP