Skip to main content
Log in

Mixer-settler runs with tri-iso-amyl phosphate and tri-n-butyl phosphate for the aqueous reprocessing of U–Zr alloy fuels

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the present study, Tri-iso-amyl Phosphate (TiAP) solvent was examined for the aqueous reprocessing of U–Zr alloy fuels. Solvent extraction studies were carried out with TiAP solvent for the extraction of uranium from U–Zr feed solution in cross-current mode. Mixer-settler runs were carried out with U–Zr feed solutions using 1.1 M TiAP/n-DD and the results were compared with TBP solvent. Quantitative extraction of uranium (> 99.9%) and negligible extraction of zirconium was observed in mixer-settler runs with both TiAP and TBP solvents. Quantitative recovery of uranium (~ 99%) was achieved from the organic phase using 0.01 M HNO3 in 16 and 6 stages, respectively in the case TiAP and TBP systems. The flowsheets employed in the present study are useful for the aqueous reprocessing of U–Zr alloy fuels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Carmack WJ, Porter DL, Chang YI (2009) Metallic fuels for advanced reactors. J Nucl Mater 392:139–150

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hofman GL, Walters LC, Bauer TH (1997) Metallic fast reactor fuels. Prog Nucl Energy 31:83–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Nawada HP, Fukuda K (2005) Role of pyro-chemical processes in advanced fuel cycles. J Phys Chem Solids 66:647–651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Christian JD, Aqueous reprocessing of U-Pu-Zr metal fuels. Dissolution considerations, 3122 Homestead Lane: Idaho Falls, ID, 83404

  5. Nagarajan K, Reddy BP, Ghosh S (2011) Development of pyrochemical reprocessing for spent metal fuels. Energy Procedia 7:431–436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Laidler JJ, Battles JE, Miller WE (1997) Development of pyroprocessing technology. Prog Nucl Energy 31:131–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Till CE, Chang YI, Hannum WH (1997) The intergral fast reactor-an overview. Prog Nucl Energy 31:3–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Chang YI (1989) The integral fast reactor. Nucl Technol 88:129–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sood DD, Patil SK (1996) Chemistry of nuclear fuel reprocessing: Current status. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry-Articles 203:547–573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Choppin GR (2006) Technology for nuclear reprocessing: present and future directions. Sep Sci Technol 41:1955–1963

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Larsen R (1959) Dissolution of uranium metal and its alloys. Anal Chem 31:545–549

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Laue C, Gates-Anderson D, Fitch T (2004) Dissolution of metallic uranium and its alloys. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 261:709–717

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Sreenivasulu B, Suresh A, Sivaraman N (2017) Dissolution and characterisation studies on U-Zr and U–Pu–Zr alloys in nitric acid medium. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 311:789–800

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Caracciolo V, Rust F (1966) Alniflex process for dissolving zirconium-uranium alloy in 304L stainless steel vessels. Ind Eng Chem Process Des Dev 5:364–368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gens TA (2004) Dissolution of zirconium reactor fuels in titanium equipment, No. ORNL-TM-22 (1961) Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn

  16. Gercke RHJ, McVey WH (1953) The dissolution of zirconium-clad uranium target elements, No. LRL-73 (1953) California Research and Development Co. Livermore Research Lab.: Livermore, Calif

  17. Occhipinti ES, Owen JH (1964) Dissolution of zirconium alloy fuels in 309scb stainless steel vessels, No. DP-872 (1964). Du Pont de Nemours (EI); Co. Savannah River Lab., Aiken, SC

  18. Seader JD, Henley EJ, Roper DK (1998) Separation process principles

  19. Pratt HRC (1983) Generalized design equations for liquid-liquid extractors. Solvent Extr Ion Exch 1:669–688

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rao PRV, Kolarik Z (1996) A review of third phase formation in extraction of actinides by neutral organophosphorus extractants. Solvent Extr Ion Exch 14:955–993

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Chiarizia R, Jensen MP, Rickert PG (2004) Extraction of zirconium nitrate by TBP in n-octane: Influence of cation type on third phase formation according to the “sticky spheres” model. Langmuir 20:10798–10808

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Suresh A, Srinivasan T, Rao PV (2009) Parameters influencing third-phase formation in the extraction of Th (NO3) 4 by some trialkyl phosphates. Solvent Extr Ion Exch 27:132–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Srinivasan T, Ahmed M, Shakila A (1986) Third phase formation in the extraction of plutonium by tri-n-butyl phosphate. Radiochim Acta 40:151–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Rakesh KB, Suresh A, Sivaraman N (2016) Extraction and third phase formation behaviour of tri-iso-amyl phosphate and tri-n-butyl phosphate with Zr (IV) and Hf (IV): a comparative study. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 309:1037–1048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Srinivasan T, Vasudeva Rao P (2014) Red oil excursions: a review. Sep Sci Technol 49:2315–2329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sreenivasulu B, Suresh A, Subramaniam S (2015) Separation of U(VI) and Pu(IV) from Am(III) and trivalent lanthanides with tri-iso-amyl phosphate (TiAP) as the extractant by using an ejector mixer-settler. Solvent Extr Ion Exch 33:120–133

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Suresh A, Sreenivasulu B, Jayalakshmi S (2015) Mixer-settler runs for the evaluation of tri-iso-amyl phosphate (TiAP) as an alternate extractant to tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) for reprocessing applications. Radiochim Acta 103:101–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Das D, Juvekar VA, Roy SB (2015) Co-Extraction of U(VI) and HNO3 Using TBP and its Higher Homologues TiAP and TEHP: comparison of equilibria, kinetics, and rate of extraction. Sep Sci Technol 50:411–420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Rakesh KB, Suresh A, Vasudeva Rao PR (2013) Studies on third phase formation in the extraction of Th(NO3)4 by tri-iso-amyl phosphate in n-alkane diluents. Sep Sci Technol 48:2761–2770

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sreenivasulu B, Suresh A, Sivaraman N (2016) Co-extraction and co-stripping of U (VI) and Pu (IV) using tri-iso-amyl phosphate and tri-n-butyl phosphate in n-dodecane from nitric acid media under high loading conditions. Radiochim Acta 104:227–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Mishra S, Kumar M, Pandey N (2020) Aqueous solubility of tri-iso-amyl phosphate (TiAP)-Effect of acidity, temperature and metal ions. Prog Nuclear Energy 119:103166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Park J-Y, Kim K, Song H (2021) Remote injection casting process with reduced material loss for fabrication of metallic fuels. Prog Nuclear Energy 132:103595

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kim JH, Song H, Kim HT (2014) Development of a new casting method to fabricate U-Zr alloy containing minor actinides. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 299:103–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Kim J-H, Lee JW, Kim K-H (2017) Injection casting of U-Zr and U–Zr–RE fuel slugs and their characterization. J Nucl Sci Technol 54:648–654

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Rajagopalan CV, Periasamy K, Koganti SB (1994) Development of air pulsed ejector mixer settlers of different capacities. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India

    Google Scholar 

  36. Gopinath N (1998) Methodologies for determination of thorium, uranium, plutonium in nuclear fuel. IANCAS 98(3):156–168

    Google Scholar 

  37. Suresh A, Patre DK, Srinivasan TG (2002) Spectrochim Acta, Part A 58:341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Fritz JS, Johnson M (1955) Volumetric Determination of Zirconium. Anal Chem 27:1653–1655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Mayankutty P, Ravi S, Nadkarni M (1982) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 68:145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Suresh A, Srinivasan TG, Vasudeva Rao P (2009) The effect of the structure of trialkyl phosphates on their physicochemical properties and extraction behavior. Solvent Extr Ion Exch 27:258–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Rakesh KB, Suresh A, Rao PV (2014) Extraction and stripping behaviour of tri-iso-amyl phosphate and tri-n-butyl phosphate in n-dodecane with U (VI) in nitric acid media. Radiochim Acta 102:619–628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Sreenivasulu B, Suresh A, Sivaraman N (2015) Solvent extraction studies with some fission product elements from nitric acid media employing tri-iso-amyl phosphate and tri-n-butyl phosphate as extractants. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 303:2165–2172

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Sreenivasulu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sreenivasulu, B., Suresh, A., Rao, C.V.S.B. et al. Mixer-settler runs with tri-iso-amyl phosphate and tri-n-butyl phosphate for the aqueous reprocessing of U–Zr alloy fuels. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 330, 1207–1220 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-08045-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-08045-8

Keywords

Navigation