Open AccessSolvent extraction studies with high-burnup Fast Flux Test Facility fuel in the Solvent Extraction Test Facility
Author(s) -
Dennis Benker,
J.E. Bigelow,
W.D. Bond,
F.R. Chattin,
L.J. King,
F.G. Kitts,
R. G. Ross,
R.G. Stacy
Publication year - 1986
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/712808
Subject(s) - plutonium , burnup , raffinate , uranium , spent nuclear fuel , chemistry , americium , mox fuel , radiochemistry , extraction (chemistry) , nuclear chemistry , nuclear engineering , waste management , materials science , chromatography , metallurgy , engineering
A batch of high-burnup fuel from the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) was processed in the Solvent Extraction Test Facility (SETF) during Campaign 9. The fuel had a burnup of {similar_to}0 MWd/kg and a cooling time of {similar_to} year. Two runs were made with this fuel; in the first, the solvent contained 30% tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and partitioning of the uranium and plutonium was effected by reducing the plutonium with hydroxylamine nitrate (HAN); in the second, the solvent contained 10% TBP and a low operating temperature was used in an attempt to partition without reducing the plutonium valence. The plutonium reoxidation problem, which was present in previous runs that used HAN, may have been solved by lowering the temperature and acidity in the partition contactor. An automatic control system was used to maintain high loadings of heavy metals in the coextraction-coscrub contactor in order to increase its efficiency while maintaining low losses of uranium and plutonium to the aqueous raffinate. An in-line photometer system was used to measure the plutonium concentration in an intermediate extraction stage; and based on this data, a computer algorithm determined the appropriate adjustments in the addition rate of the extractant. The control system was successfully demonstrated in a preliminary run with purified uranium. However, a variety of equipment and start up problems prevented an extended demonstration from being accomplished during the runs with the FFTF fuel