Re-evaluation of Radiation-Energy Transfer to an Extraction Solvent in a Minor-Actinide-Separation Process Based on Consideration of Radiation Permeability

ABSTRACT

Absorbed-dose estimation is essential for evaluation of the radiation tolerance of minor-actinide-separation processes. We propose a dose-evaluation method based on radiation permeability, with comparisons of heterogeneous structures seen in the solvent-extraction process, such as emulsions forming in the mixture of the organic and aqueous phases. A demonstration of radiation-energy-transfer simulation is performed with a focus on the minor-actinide-recovery process from high-level liquid waste with the aid of the Monte Carlo radiation-transport code PHITS. The simulation results indicate that the dose absorbed by the extraction solvent from alpha radiation depends upon the emulsion structure, and that from beta and gamma radiation depends upon the mixer-settler-apparatus size. Non-negligible contributions of well-permeable gamma rays were indicated in terms of the plant operation of the minor-actinide-separation process.     

Applications of Diglycolamide Based Solvent Extraction Processes in Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing,Part 1: TODGA

Over the last decade there has been much interest in the applications of diglycolamide (DGA) ligands for the extraction of the trivalent lanthanide and actinide ions from PUREX high active raffinates or dissolved spent nuclear fuel. Of the DGAs, the N,N,N’,N’-tetraoctyldiglycolamide (TODGA) is the best known and most widely studied. A number of new actinide separation processes have been proposed based on extraction with TODGA. This review covers TODGA-based processes and extraction data, specifically focusing on how phase modifiers have been used to increase metal loading and thus enhance the operating process envelopes. Effects of third phase formation and the organic phase speciation are reviewed in this context. Relevant aspects of the extraction chemistry of important solvents (TODGA-modifier-diluent combinations) are described and their performances demonstrated by a consideration of the published flowsheet tests. It is seen that modifiers are successfully enabling the use of TODGA in actinide separation processes but to date the identification and testing of suitable modifiers has been rather empirical. There is a growing understanding of the fundamental chemistry occurring in the organic phase and how that affects extractant speciation and metal loading capacity but studies are still needed if TODGA-based flowsheets are to become an industrially deployable option for minor actinide (MA) recovery processes.     

Adsorption Characteristics of Trivalent Rare Earths and Chemical Stability of a Silica-Based Macroporous TODGA Adsorbent in HNO3 Solution

In order to separate trivalent minor actinides (Am and Cm) from high-level liquid waste generated in a nuclear fuel reprocessing process, a silica-based macroporous TODGA (N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide) adsorbent (TODGA/SiO₂-P) was prepared. In this study, the adsorption characteristics of some trivalent rare earths (Y, Nd, and Eu), whose separation behaviors were similar to those of the minor actinides from HNO₃ solution with the TODGA/SiO₂-P adsorbent, and the chemical stability of the adsorbent against the HNO₃ solution were evaluated experimentally. It was found that the adsorbent exhibited a quite strong adsorption especially for Y(III). The standard enthalpy change for the Y(III) adsorption was determined to be ?2.5kJ·mol^?1 using the van't Hoff equation, which indicates that the adsorption was an exothermic reaction. The results of chemical stability experiments showed that the adsorbent had relatively excellent properties in long-time contact with the HNO₃ solution.     

An Additional Insight into the Correlation between the Distribution Ratios and the Aqueous Acidity of the TODGA System

Abstract

Extraction of Eu(III) and Am(III) from HNO₃ into the organic solvents using N,N,N′,N′‐tetraoctyl‐diglycolamide (TODGA) was investigated in order to study the detailed extraction reaction. The chemical species: 1:2 for metal:TODGA complex is present in polar diluents. On the other hand, the metal complexes need three or more TODGA molecules to remain stable in non‐polar diluents. The HNO₃ concentration dependence on the distribution ratio suggests that HNO₃ participates in the metal extraction. Infrared spectra indicate that the carbonyl oxygen coordinates with Eu(III), and luminescence lifetimes suggest that there are no water molecules in the inner coordination sphere of the extracted Eu‐complex.     

Me-TODGA与TODGA萃取锶性能对比

以N,N,N′,N′-四辛基-2-甲基-3-氧戊二酰胺(Me-TODGA)或N,N,N′,N′-四辛基-3-氧戊二酰胺(TODGA)为萃取剂、磷酸三丁酯(TBP)为相改良剂、煤油为稀释剂,对比研究了水相酸度、萃取剂浓度、锶浓度、温度对Me-TODGA-TBP体系和TODGA-TBP体系萃取Sr²⁺的影响,并采用斜率法确定了萃合物的组成。结果表明,2种酰胺荚醚萃取Sr²⁺的分配比(D_Sr)随HNO₃浓度(c(HNO₃)=0.1～2.7 mol/L)、萃取剂浓度(c(萃取剂)=0.05～0.3 mol/L)的增加而增大,随Sr²⁺浓度的升高略有下降,随温度的升高而下降。2种萃取剂的萃合物组成分别为Sr(NO₃)2•3Me-TODGA和Sr(NO₃)2•2TODGA。萃取反应的ΔH分别为-69.46 kJ/mol和-51.39 kJ/mol,ΔS分别为-190.5 J/(mol•K)和-128.4 J/(mol•K),ΔG分别为-12.68 kJ/mol和-13.12 kJ/mol。相比之下,Me-TODGA萃取Sr²⁺的分配比不到TODGA的1/5。     

Use of Polyaminocarboxylic Acids as Hydrophilic Masking Agents for Fission Products in Actinide Partitioning Processes

During the partitioning of trivalent actinides from High Active Raffinate (HAR) solutions, most processes have to cope with an undesirable co-extraction of some of the fission products. Four hydrophilic complexing agents of the group of polyaminocarboxylic acids, namely EDTA, HEDTA, DTPA, and CTDA were tested and compared for their ability to complex fission products in a simulated PUREX raffinate solution, thereby preventing their extraction into an organic solvent. Several solvents, based on TODGA and the DIAMEX reference molecule DMDOHEMA, that are commonly known to show quite high Zr and Pd co-extraction, were studied. Our investigations ultimately resulted in a substitution of oxalic acid and HEDTA by cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA). A small addition of this hydrophilic complexing agent to the feed decreased the distribution ratios of Zr from 100 to <0.01. The suppression of Pd was also very effective, resulting in >90% of the metal retained in the feed solution. The extraction of trivalent actinides and lanthanides was not negatively affected by the presence of CDTA. Furthermore, experiments with high concentrations of Zr proved the applicability of this new masking agent. The suppression of Zr and Pd extraction was also verified at a high Pu loading which makes CDTA as a masking agent attractive for grouped actinide extraction processes (GANEX) as well as DIAMEX-SANEX type separations.     

EXTRACTION OF NITRIC AND PHOSPHORIC ACIDS WITH TRIBUTYL PHOSPHATE

The extraction of nitric acid and phosphoric acid by tributyl phosphate (TBP), from solutions containing acid mixture and in the presence of nitrate salts, has been studied. The effect of the temperature on acid extraction has been also investigated. It is found that TBP extracts nitric acid preferentially to phosphoric acid, especially in the presence of nitrate salts. The coextraction of nitric acid suppresses the extraction of phosphoric acid. These results were interpreted in terms of common ion effect and variation of the activity coefficients variation in both phases. The simultaneous effects of the salts and acids on the extraction of both acids is also studied

Some tests were carried out, using process solution, to evaluate the extraction of acids. Both batch experiments and continuous tests (using mixer settler) were performed. Some flowsheets were tested in order to improve the extractivity and the selectivity of phosphoric acid. The results show the limitation of TBP for the extraction of phosphoric acid. TBP can be used to selectively extract nitric acid.     

氮,氮,氮′,氮′-四辛基-3-氧戊二酰胺色谱柱分离-电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定混合稀土氧化物中重稀土

电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测定稀土元素时,轻稀土元素Ce、Nd、Sm的氧化物等复合离子严重干扰重稀土元素Tb、Dy、Ho、Er的测定,因此对混合稀土中重稀土元素进行测定前一般需要先对其分离富集。实验在样品溶解后,将N,N,N′,N′-四辛基-3-氧戊二酰胺(TODGA)用硅藻土吸附后装柱,以0.1 mol/L HNO₃为样品溶液介质上柱,通过控制洗脱液的种类、酸度以及洗脱液流速,实现了轻稀土元素La、Ce、Pr、Nd与重稀土元素Tb、Dy、Ho、Er、Tm、Yb、Lu的分离和富集,建立了ICP-MS测定混合稀土氧化物中重稀土元素的方法。实验表明:控制洗脱流速为2.0 mL/min,用pH 2.0的HNO₃淋洗至淋洗体积约为500 mL,继续收集洗脱液,并用ICP-MS检测其中Nd₂O₃含量,直至洗脱液中Nd₂O₃的质量浓度小于200 ng/mL,可将轻稀土元素La、Ce、Pr、Nd及少量Y、Sm、Gd洗脱;再改用350 mL 1 mol/L HCl洗脱重稀土元素,可实现重稀土元素与La、Ce、Pr、Nd及部分Y、Sm、Gd的分离;通过选择¹⁵⁹Tb、¹⁶³Dy、¹⁶⁵Ho、¹⁶⁷Er、¹⁶⁹Tm、¹⁷²Yb、¹⁷⁵Lu为测定同位素可消除质谱干扰。将实验方法应用于混合稀土氧化物中重稀土元素的测定,加标回收率在93%～110%之间,相对标准偏差(RSD,n=8)在1.1%～10%之间。     

Simultaneous Extraction of Neodymium and Uranium using Hollow Fiber Supported Liquid Membrane

Simultaneous extraction of neodymium and uranium ions from aqueous nitrate media was investigated using hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM). The organic phase supported in the membrane pores consisted of extractant N,N,N’,N’-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA), phase modifier isodecanol, and diluent n-dodecane. Experimental results suggest that there is competition between neodymium and uranium ions for complexation with TODGA. The initial rate of extraction of Nd³⁺ ions was found to be approximately six times to that of UO₂²⁺ ions. Experimental data was explained by a mathematical model for simultaneous transport of two metal ions. The model results were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data when the diffusivities of neodymium-TODGA complex (D_nm) and uranium-TODGA complex (D_um) in the membrane pore are 1.1 x 10^?11 and 4 x 10^?12 m²/s, respectively.     

Insight into nitric acid extraction and aggregation of N,N, N’, N’-Tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) in organic solutions by molecular dynamics simulation

The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of TODGA in n-dodecane shows formation of nanostructures of TODGA aggregates with nitric acid and water. These aggregates are dispersed in dodecane phase or form well defined reverse micelles grown sufficient in size depending on the acid concentration. With increasing nitric acid concentration, aggregation number of TODGA in reverse micelles also increases which, however, is independent of TODGA concentration. Aggregation number rises from 2 to 8 in presence of 0–3.5 M nitric acid in corresponding aqueous phase. The formation of the aggregates explains remarkable acid co-extraction from aqueous phase to organic dodecane phase by TODGA.