The Universal Solvent Extraction (UNEX) Process I: Development of the UNEX Process Solvent for the Separation of Cesium, Strontium, and the Actinides from Acidic Radioactive Waste

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001 · Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange

OSTI ID:912116

Law, Jack Douglas; Todd, Terry Allen; Herbst, Ronald Scott; Brewer, Ken Neal; Romanovskiy, V N; Smirnov, I V; Babain, V A

A synergistic extraction mixture containing chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide (CCD), carbamoylmethyl phosphine oxide (CMPO), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been investigated for the simultaneous recovery of cesium, strontium, lanthanides, and actinides from highly acidic media. The extraction properties of this mixture depend on the concentration ratio of the components. For recovery of all major radionuclides, the optimal ratio of [CCD]:[PEG]: [CMPO] = 5:1:1 should be used. The use of diphenyl-N,N-dibutylcarbamoylmethyl phosphine oxide and PEG-400 provides the most efficient recovery of cesium, strontium, lanthanides, and actinides. The possibility of using polyfluorinated ethers, esters, ketones, and sulfones as diluents was examined. Phenyltrifluoromethyl sulfone was the most suitable diluent tested. The use of this diluent allows good extraction properties, chemical and radiation stability, excellent explosion/fire-safety properties, and favorable hydrodynamic characteristics. The extraction of radionuclides from HNO3 media by mixtures of CCD:PEG:CMPO in phenyltrifluoromethyl sulfone and the subsequent stripping behavior were evaluated.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC07-99ID-13727
• OSTI ID: 912116
• Report Number(s): INEEL/JOU-00-00871; SEIEDB; TRN: US0800278
• Journal Information: Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange, Vol. 19, Issue 1; ISSN 0736-6299
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ACTINIDES
CESIUM
COBALT
CONCENTRATION RATIO
ESTERS
ETHERS
HYDRODYNAMICS
KETONES
MIXTURES
PHOSPHINE OXIDES
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS
RADIATIONS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE EARTHS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SOLVENTS
STRONTIUM
SULFONES
actinides
Radioactive Waste
synergistic extraction
Universal Solvent Extraction (UNEX)