Recovery of Oxidized Actinides, Np(VI), Pu(VI), and Am(VI), from Cocrystallized Uranyl Nitrate Hexahydrate: A Single Technology Approach to Used Nuclear Fuel Recycling

Einkauf, Jeffrey D.; Burns, Jonathan D.

doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.0c00381

Title: Recovery of Oxidized Actinides, Np(VI), Pu(VI), and Am(VI), from Cocrystallized Uranyl Nitrate Hexahydrate: A Single Technology Approach to Used Nuclear Fuel Recycling

Journal Article · Mon Feb 10 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.0c00381· OSTI ID:1828130

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Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)

In this work, the utility of recovering cocrystallized Np, Pu, and Am from a uranyl nitrate hexahydrate crystalline phase has been examined. Progressive dissolution studies were carried out on samples of either Np(VI), Pu(VI), or Am(VI) cocrystallized with uranyl nitrate hexahydrate, resulting in a linear relationship between the amount of actinides dissolved as a function of volume of HNO₃ added, which indicates homogeneous distribution of the transuranic species throughout the crystalline solid. The ratio of the concentration of U to the heavier actinides was maintained over the entire dissolution and mimicked that of the starting cocrystallization solution. A series of five crystallization–dissolution–recrystallization cycles of uranyl nitrate hexahydrate from nitric acid have been achieved in the presence of Am(VI), where the behavior of Am(VI) followed that of U(VI) for each step of all five cycles. Negligible reduction of Am(VI) to Am(III) was observed between each recrystallization cycle. These results indicate the utility of a group hexavalent actinide cocrystallization approach toward used nuclear fuel recycling.

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Research Organization:: Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)

Grant/Contract Number:: NE0008653

OSTI ID:: 1828130

Journal Information:: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 59, Issue 10; ISSN 0888-5885

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Recovery of Oxidized Actinides, Np(VI), Pu(VI), and Am(VI), from Cocrystallized Uranyl Nitrate Hexahydrate: A Single Technology Approach to Used Nuclear Fuel Recycling

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