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Abstract
The solubility of tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) in aqueous solutions of plutonium nitrate (PuN) and in highly radioactive liquid waste (HRLW) of PUREX nuclear fuel reprocessing was investigated. By an empirical formula the solubility of TBP in PuN solutions was described in the range of 0–0. 1 M Pu and 1–8M HNO3 concentrations. The following items were elucidated:
(1) The logarithm of TBP solubility (S) in the solution of interest varies inversely in proportion to the concentration of Pu(IV) in the range of 0–0.1M PU(IV) at a constant concentration of HNO3, indicating that Pu(IV) simply behaves as an electrolyte for the salting-out of TBP. Log S subsequently levels off with increasing Pu concentration, which would be due to a change in the principal dissolution form of TBP having an interaction with Pu (IV).
(2) The variation in S in PuN solutions (0–0.1M PU) with nitric acid concentration shows almost the same tendency as that in HNO3 solution.
(3) A dependency of S on fission product metal ions in HNO3 for HRLW similar to that for PuN was observed.
(4) The logarithm of the ratio of TBP solubility in water to that in solution of interest was nearly proportional to l/T for HRLW solution or for low concentration of PuN solution. That deviates from the linear relation at high temperature when the concentration of PuN is increased, which can be explained by the change in ionic form of Pu.