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Original Articles

Demonstration of a TODGA‐Based Continuous Counter‐Current Extraction Process for the Partitioning of Actinides from a Simulated PUREX Raffinate, Part II: Centrifugal Contactor Runs

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Pages 62-76 | Received 18 Aug 2007, Accepted 27 Oct 2007, Published online: 31 Dec 2007
 

Abstract

The efficiency of the partitioning of trivalent actinides from a PUREX raffinate is demonstrated with a TODGA+TBP extractant mixture dissolved in an industrial aliphatic solvent TPH. Based on the results of cold and hot batch extraction studies and with the aid of computer code calculations, a continuous counter‐current process is developed and two flowsheets are tested using miniature centrifugal contactors. The feed solution used is a synthetic PUREX raffinate, spiked with 241Am, 244Cm, 252Cf, 152Eu, and 134Cs. More than 99.9% of the trivalent actinides and lanthanides are extracted and back‐extracted and very high decontamination factors are obtained for most fission products. The co‐extraction of zirconium, molybdenum, and palladium is prevented using oxalic acid and HEDTA. However, 10% of ruthenium is extracted and only 3% is back‐extracted using diluted nitric acid. The experimental steady‐state concentration profiles of important solutes are determined and compared with model calculations and good agreement is generally obtained.

Acknowledgment

Financial support for this research was provided by the European Commission (project EUROPART, contract FI6W‐CT‐2003‐508854).

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