Full-Scale Testing of a Caustic Side Solvent Extraction System to Remove Cesium from Savannah River Site Radioactive Waste

Abstract

Savannah River Site (SRS) personnel have completed construction and assembly of the Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU) facility. Following assembly, they conducted testing to evaluate the ability of the process to remove non-radioactive cesium and to separate the aqueous and organic phases. They conducted tests at salt solution flow rates of 3.5, 6.0, and 8.5 gpm.

During testing, the MCU Facility collected samples and submitted them to Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) personnel for analysis of cesium, Isopar® L, and modifier [1-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)-3-(4-sec-butylphenoxy)-2-propanol]. SRNL personnel analyzed the aqueous samples for cesium by Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and the solvent samples for cesium using a Parr Bomb digestion followed by ICP-MS. They analyzed aqueous samples for Isopar® L and modifier by gas chromatography (GC).

The conclusions from the cesium analyses follow.

	The cesium in the feed samples measured 15.8 mg/L, in agreement with expectations.
	The decontamination factor measured 181–1580 at a salt solution flow rate of 3.5 gpm, 211–252 at a salt solution flow rate of 6.0 gpm, and 275–878 at a salt solution flow rate of 8.5 gpm.
	The concentration factor measured 11.0–11.1 at 3.5 gpm salt solution flow rate, 12.8–13.2 at 6.0 gpm salt solution flow rate, and 12.0–13.2 at 8.5 gpm salt solution flow rate.
	The organic carryover from the final extraction contactor (#7) varied between 22 and 710 mg/L Isopar® L. The organic carryover was less at the lowest flow rate.
	The organic carryover from the final strip contactor (#7) varied between 80 and 180 mg/L Isopar® L.
	The organic carryover in the Decontaminated Salt Solution Hold Tank (DSSHT) and the Strip Effluent Hold Tank (SEHT) was less than 10 mg/L Isopar® L, indicating good recovery of the solvent by the coalescers and decanters.

Notes

DSS: decontaminated salt solution.

SE: strip effluent.

DF: decontamination factor (DF = Cs_feed/Cs_DSS).

CF: concentration factor (DF = Cs_strip/Cs_feed).

DSS: decontaminated salt solution.

SE: strip effluent.

DF: decontamination factor (DF = Cs_feed/Cs_DSS).

CF: concentration factor (DF = Cs_strip/Cs_feed).

DSS: decontaminated salt solution.

SE: strip effluent.

DF: decontamination factor (DF = Cs_feed/Cs_DSS).

CF: concentration factor (DF = Cs_strip/Cs_feed).

DSS: decontaminated salt solution.

SE: strip effluent.

SHT: solvent hold tank.

DF: decontamination factor (DF = Cs_feed/Cs_DSS).

CF: concentration factor (DF = Cs_strip/Cs_feed).