Separation of High Activity Nuclear Waste into Chemically Similar Fractions. First Annual Report

摘要

This report summarizes the research performed on the following tasks: (1) Removal of cesium and strontium from acidic waste, (2) Platinum-group metal removal from acidic waste (palladium, rhodium and ruthenium), and (3) rare earth and actinide removal as a group from acidic waste. The elements are to be removed from a commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing liquid waste stream after separation of uranium and plutonium and before the solidification process that encapsulates the residual fission products in a solid permanent underground storage. It is of course understood that the recovery and purification of uranium and plutonium would be the principal reason for commercial reprocessing. The major accomplishment of the project has been the identification of two crown compounds (macrocyclic-polyethers) the first specific for cesium extraction and the second specific for strontium extraction in an organic matrix solution containing TBP, kerosene and liquid anion exchanger Didodecyl naphthalene Sulfonic Acid (DNS). Platinum group metal solvent extraction work has also focused on the removal of Pd from solutions of HNO sub 3 and HCl. Three crown compounds and two liquid anion exchange reagents were evaluated in an organic phase consisting primarily of TBP and kerosene. 10 figures, 8 tables. (ERA citation 10:009605)