Crud formation in the Purex and Thorex processes

Journal Article · Sun Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1986 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7094985

Zimmer, E; Borchardt, J

In the solvent extraction processes for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, operational flow problems may be caused by the formation of stable emulsions, commonly called ''crud''. Our experiments have demonstrated that crud is generated by finely dispersed solids. Such fines can be produced by precipitation of zirconium with degradation products of tributyl phosphate. Experiments show that crud can also be produced by other solids, however, viz., finely divided silica and bentonite. Therefore, fines present in the aqueous feed solution might also produce crud. A special problem arises in the reextraction step in the Thorex process, where a precipitate of thorium dibutyl phosphate causes crud formation.

• Research Organization: Institut fur Chemische Technologie der Nuklearen Entsorgung der Kernforschungsanlage Julich GmbH, Postfach 1913, D-5170 Julich
• OSTI ID: 7094985
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 75:3; ISSN NUTYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
BENTONITE
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
CLAYS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ESTERS
EXTRACTION
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
FUELS
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERALS
MIXTURES
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR FUELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORIC ACID ESTERS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PUREX PROCESS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REPROCESSING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SCALING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SOLIDS
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SPENT FUELS
TBP
THOREX PROCESS
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
THORIUM PHOSPHATES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
YIELDS
ZIRCONIUM