Some milestone solvent extraction processes at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
After ether extraction was scaled up to plant status, solvent extraction grew rapidly, intensively, and extensively. This paper recounts developments at the ORNL in three fields: Fuel Reprocessing, Uranium Production, and Transplutonium Element Recovery. Fuel Reprocessing: In the late 1940's, soon after TBP was discovered to be an extractant, the Purex process was developed to recover, decontaminate, and separate Pu and U (from nitric acid solutions of spent reactor fuels) without the need of added salting agents. Uranium Production: Around 1950, the ORNL Raw Materials Section launched an intensive search for reagents that could extract uranium from sulfuric acid leach liquors. This was accomplished with di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) and a suite of high-molecular-weight alkylamines. The resulting Dapex and Amex processes eventually dominated domestic uranium production, spread world-wide, and provided bases for innovative processes in other fields. Transplutonium Element Recovery: Tramex and Talspeak processes accomplish separation of the trivalent actinides from the similar lanthanides. Tramex (1961; amine extraction from concentrated lithium chloride) has been used in the ORNL Transuranium processing Plant (TRU) since 1966. Talspeak (1964; HDEHP extraction from carboxylic acid + aminopolyacetate complexer) has wider potential because it is less corrosive, and it is being extensively studied for separating americium and curium from fuel reprocessing wastes.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
- OSTI ID:
- 7068379
- Journal Information:
- J. Tenn. Acad. Sci.; (United States), Vol. 53:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
AMEX PROCESS
DAPEX PROCESS
PUREX PROCESS
TALSPEAK PROCESS
TRAMEX PROCESS
NUCLEAR FUELS
ORNL
REPROCESSING
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXTRACTION
FUELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
REACTOR MATERIALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
050800* - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
050700 - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties
400105 - Separation Procedures