Extraction of cesium, strontium and the platinium group metals from acidic high activity nuclear waste using a Purex process compatible organic extractant. Final report, December 15, 1980-August 15, 1983

Purex process compatible organic systems which selectively and reversibly extract cesium, strontium, and palladium from synthetic mixed fission product solutions containing 3M HNO/sub 3/ have been developed. This advance makes the development of continuous solvent extraction processes for their recovery more likely. The most favorable cesium and strontium complexing solutions have been tested for radiation stability to 10/sup 7/ rad using a 0.4 x 10/sup 7/ rad/h /sup 60/Co source. The distribution coefficients dropped somewhat but remained above unity. For cesium the complexing organic solution is 5 vol % (0.1M) NNS, 27 vol % TBP and 68 vol % kerosene containing 0.05m Bis 4,4',(5')(1-hydroxy 2-ethylhexyl)-benzo 18-crown-6 (Crown XVII). The NNS is a sulfonic acid cation exchanger. With an aqueous phase containing 0.006M Cs/sup +1/ in contact with an equal volume of extractant the D org/aq = 1.6 at a temperature of 25 to 35/sup 0/C. For strontium the complexing organic solution is 5 vol % (0.1M) NNS, 27 vol % TBP and 68 vol % Kerosene containing 0.02M Bis 4,4'(5') (1-hydroxyheptyl)cyclohexo 18-crown-6 (Crown XVI). With an aqueous phase containing 0.003M Sr/sup +2/ in contact with an equal volume of extractant the D org/aq = 1.98 at a temperature of 25more » to 35/sup 0/C. For palladium the complexing organic solution consisted of a ratio of TBP/kerosene of 0.667 containing 0.3M Alamine 336 which is a tertiary amine anion exchanger. With an aqueous phase containing 0.0045M Pd/sup +/ in contact with an equal volume of extractant the D org/aq = 1.95 at a temperature of 25 to 35/sup 0/C.« less