Recovery of americium and curium from nuclear fuel processing waste solutions
Am and Cm exist in the trivalent state under conditions practical in reprocessing, and their chemistry is very similar to that of the rare earths which are present in relatively large amount as major fission products. Conceptual processes to recover Am and Cm, therefore, usually include two separate cycles. The first is the recovery of Am, Cm, and any transcurium actinides, along with the lanthanides, but hopefully separated from all the rest of the fission products and bulk chemicals used in processing, like sodium nitrate, iron, and sulfate. The second cycle is the partition of Am, Cm, and possibly heavier actinides like Cf, from the fission product rare earths. The first cycle, co-recovery of lanthanides and actinides, can, in principle, be accomplished by several methods including precipitation, solvent extraction, and ion exchange. Each has its own problems and limitations, as well as different interactions with the second cycle. The methods of cation exchange and oxalate precipitation are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn. (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 7338455
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-760826-8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Removal of americium and curium from high-level wastes. [DHDECMP; OPIX; Talspeak]
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Related Subjects
052001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACTINIDES
AMERICIUM
CURIUM
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
ION EXCHANGE
MANAGEMENT
METALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PRECIPITATION
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
REACTOR MATERIALS
RECOVERY
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPENT FUELS
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES