Solvent Extraction Recovery of Plutonium from Raffinate Concentrates in the Purex Process

摘要

Raffinate concentrates which are produced in purification cycles of the Purex process contain plutonium(IV,VI), uranium(VI), both lyophilic and hydrophilic decomposition products of tributyl phosphate, large amounts of nitric acid and, eventually, ammonium nitrate and neptunium(IV,V,VI). Conditions were sought for the recovery of plutonium from the concentrates by the extraction of plutonium(IV) and plutonyl nitrates with 32 vol.% tributyl phosphate in an alkane diluent. The feed preparation for the plutonium recovery, the distribution behaviour of plutonium(IV,VI) during the phase contacting in a mixer-settler, and some disturbing phenomena like crud formation were investigated and flowsheets were elaborated for the extraction of plutonium from both neptunium free and neptunium containing concentrates. (ERA citation 11:022068)