EXTRACTION EQUIPMENT AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE USED İN SEMI-CONTINUOUS SILVER-URANIUM EXTRACTION STUDIES

摘要

Liquid-liquid aqueous extraction methods for reprocessing metallic fuels have two main disadvantages. First, the process involves many steps such as dissolution in acid, extraction, conversion to a salt, and reduction to the metallic state. Secondly, relatively large volumes of radioactive solutions are obtained.nThis paper describes small scale, semi-continuous extraction runs for extracting irradiated neodymium from a molten uranium-neodymium alloy using droplets of molten silver at 1250° and 1290°C. Two different silver drop sizes and flow rates were used. The graphite extractor, silver metering device, and the extract sampling equipment are described.nThe experimental extraction data obtained are presented. These data were correlated reasonably well with equations developed for multistage batch extractions. The actual neodyraium concentrations obtained were compared with equilibrium data determine extraction efficiencies for the various runs. Extraction efficiencies of 15% to 35% were found, with higher efficiencies resulting when large sized drops were used in these runs, a considerable amount of neodynaium was apparently removed by car bide formation with the container wall prior to the extraction with silver.