Selective Separation of Trivalent Actinides from Lanthanides by Aqueous Processing with Introduction of Soft Donor Atoms

Nash, Kenneth L. ; Clark, Sue B. ; Lumetta, Gregg

Washington State University

关键词: Removal;    Actinides;    Uranium Minerals;    Processing;    Rare Earths;   

DOI  :  10.2172/967181
RP-ID  :  DOE/ID/14644
RP-ID  :  FC07-05ID14644
RP-ID  :  967181

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

With increased application of MOX fuels and longer burnup times for conventional fuels, higher concentrations of the transplutonium actinides Am and Cm (and even heavier species like Bk and Cf) will be produced. The half-lives of the Am isotopes are significantly longer than those of the most important long-lived, high specific activity lanthanides or the most common Cm, Bk and Cf isotopes, thus the greatest concern as regards long-term radiotoxicity. With the removal and transmutation of Am isotopes, radiation levels of high level wastes are reduced to near uranium mineral levels within less than 1000 years as opposed to the time-fram if they remain in the wastes.