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Co-precipitation of plutonium(IV) and americium(III) from nitric acid–oxalic acid solutions with bismuth oxalate

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Abstract

Co-precipitation of plutonium and americium from nitric acid–oxalic acid solutions with bismuth oxalate has been investigated for the removal of these long lived α-active nuclides from plutonium oxalate waste solutions and anion exchange effluents respectively. Strong co-precipitation of Pu(IV) and Am(III) with bismuth oxalate from a wide range of nitric acid and oxalic acid concentrations indicate feasibility of direct treatment of oxalate waste solutions and anion exchange effluents by this method. Co-precipitation of Am(III) from high nitric acid concentrations is poor, however, this could be effectively achieved, after partially neutralizing the acid with ammonia.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. S. Kannan, Head, Fuel Chemistry Division, for his constant encouragement during this work.

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  1. Fuel Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400 085, India

    D. M. Noronha, I. C. Pius & Satyajeet Chaudhury

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  1. D. M. Noronha
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  2. I. C. Pius
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  3. Satyajeet Chaudhury
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Correspondence to D. M. Noronha.

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Noronha, D.M., Pius, I.C. & Chaudhury, S. Co-precipitation of plutonium(IV) and americium(III) from nitric acid–oxalic acid solutions with bismuth oxalate. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 313, 523–529 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5348-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5348-1

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