Method for selectively reducing plutonium values by a photochemical process

Patent · 01 January 1978

OSTI ID:863246

Friedman, Horace A ^[1]; Toth, Louis M ^[1]; Bell, Jimmy T ^[2]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN
2. Kingston, TN

The rate of reduction of Pu(IV) to Pu(III) in nitric acid solution containing a reducing agent is enhanced by exposing the solution to 200-500 nm electromagnetic radiation. Pu values are recovered from an organic extractant solution containing Pu(IV) values and U(VI) values by the method of contacting the extractant solution with an aqueous nitric acid solution in the presence of a reducing agent and exposing the aqueous solution to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 200-500 nm. Under these conditions, Pu values preferentially distribute to the aqueous phase and U values preferentially distribute to the organic phase.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4131527
• OSTI ID: 863246
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/204/423/976/
200-500
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electromagnetic
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iii
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