A micro hot test of the Chalmers-GANEX extraction system on used nuclear fuel

• In the present study, a "micro hot test" has been performed using the Chalmers-GANEX (Group ActiNide EXtraction) system for partitioning of used nuclear fuel. The test included a pre-extraction step using N,N-di-2- ethylhexylbutyramide (DEHBA) in n-octanol to remove the bulk part of the uranium. This pre-extraction was followed by a group extraction of actinides using the mixture of TBP and CyMe4-BTBP in cyclohexanone as suggested in the Chalmers-GANEX process, and a three stage stripping of the extracted actinides. Distribution ratios for the extractions and stripping were determined based on a combination of γ- and α-spectrometry, as well as ICP-MS measurements. Successful extraction of uranium, plutonium and the minor actinides neptunium, americium and curium was achieved. However, measurements also indicated that co-extraction of europium occurs to some extent during the separation. These results were expected based on previous experiments using trace concentrations of actinides and lanthanides. Since this test was only performed in one stage with respect to the group actinide extraction, it is expected that multi stage tests will give even better results.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Oorganisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Inorganic Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Cyclohexanones

Nuclear fuel reprocessing

Trace concentrations

Nuclear energy

Actinides

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Multi stage

Minor actinide

N-octanol

Testing Actinide extraction

Extraction systems

Distribution ratio

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