Proof-of-concept flowsheet tests for caustic-side solvent extraction of cesium from tank waste.

Leonard, R.A. ; Aase, S.B. ; Arafat, H.A. ; Conner, C. ; Falkenberg, J.R. ; Vandegrift, G.F.

Argonne National Laboratory

关键词: Flowsheets;    Radioactive Waste Processing;    Nitric Acid;    Solvents;    Savannah River Plant;   

DOI  :  10.2172/779797
RP-ID  :  ANL-00/30
RP-ID  :  W-31-109-ENG-38
RP-ID  :  779797

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

A caustic-side solvent extraction (CSSX) process to remove cesium from Savannah River Site (SRS) high-level waste was tested in a minicontactor (2-cm centrifugal contactor). In the first phase of this effort, the minicontactor stage efficiency was improved from 60% to greater than 80% to meet the SRS process requirements using a 32-stage CSSX flowsheet. Then, the CSSX flowsheet was demonstrated in a 32-stage unit, first without solvent recycle, then with it. In both cases, the key process goals were achieved: (1) the cesium was removed from the waste with decontamination factors greater than 40,000 and (2) the recovered cesium was concentrated by a factor of 15 in dilute nitric acid. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) analysis of the recycled solvent showed no evidence of impurity buildup.