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Feasibility of Dissolution of U–Zr Alloy in an Acid-Saturated Amide Ligand

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Abstract

In the present communication, we have explored the feasibility of the dissolution of U–Zr alloy in an acid-saturated amide-based organic ligand, N,N-dihexyloctanamide (DHOA) in the context of the preparation of the spent metallic fuel dissolver solution. The diverse experimental parameters such as temperature, the concentration of nitric acid, dissolution time, volume of DHOA, etc. were optimized for accomplishing the dissolution process. The present methodology requires less amount of nitric acid for the dissolution of the metalloy as compared to that of direct dissolution in nitric acid medium, and in particular, DHOA strongly influences the dissolution time and the temperature demand for the dissolution process. These added advantages certainly have the edge over the conventional dissolution process. Stripping of the loaded metal ion in DHOA phase and the recycling of DHOA were also ascertained and reported in the paper.

Graphical Abstract

Dissolution of U–Zr pellet in the acid-saturated DHOA phase leads to quantitative dissolution of uranium leaving zirconium as the pasty black residue with poor dissolution performance.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. A. Suresh, Head, Fuel Chemistry Division for his keen interest in this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Chemistry and Metal Fuel Cycle Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603 102, India

    Alok Rout & N. Ramanathan

  2. Homi Bhabha National Institute, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    N. Ramanathan

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  1. Alok Rout
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  2. N. Ramanathan
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Correspondence to Alok Rout.

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The contributing editor for this article was Hongmin Zhu.

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Rout, A., Ramanathan, N. Feasibility of Dissolution of U–Zr Alloy in an Acid-Saturated Amide Ligand. J. Sustain. Metall. 7, 767–772 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-021-00402-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-021-00402-x

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