Recovery of uranium, plutonium and americium from plutonium oxide leach solution

摘要

Separation of uranium, plutonium and americium from plutonium oxide leach solution (preferentially dissolved uranium with 16 M HNO_3) originated while purifying impure plutonium oxide containing uranium have been carried out. Ion exchange, solvent extraction and precipitation techniques were employed for this task. Plutonium was separated by anion exchange method using Dowex 1 X 4 at 6 M HNO_3, uranium by solvent extraction with 30 percent TBP/dodecane and americium by precipitation as oxalate with oxalic acid at pH 1. Approximately 95 percent recovery of all the components could be achieved with good decontamination factor.