METHOD FOR SEPARATING TECHNETIUM THAT IS IN AN ORGANIC SOLUTION WITH ZIRCON AND AT LEAST ONE OTHER METAL, SUCH AS URANIUM OR PLUTONIUM, APPLICABLE IN PARTICULAR FOR THE REPROCESSING OF IRRADIATED OIL BURNERS.

摘要

Process for separating off the technetium present in an organic solvent in the first stage of treatment of irradiated nuclear fuels. In the reprocessing plant the solvent leaving the extractor 1 contains uranium, plutonium, zirconium and technetium; the zirconium is separated therefrom in the extractor (2) and then the technetium in the extractor (3) by being brought into contact with a solution of nitric acid and/or of nitrates which is preferably introduced at different concentrations at (19) and at (21). The solvent leaving the extractor (3) then contains only traces of technetium. The aqueous solution leaving the extractor (3) is treated in an extractor (4) with an organic solvent in order to re-extract into it the uranium and plutonium which have been transferred into aqueous solution. The technetium can thus be removed successfully before the uranium/plutonium partition operation is carried out, without introducing new chemical reactants and without greatly increasing the volume of the effluents leaving the plant. IMAGE