Innovative SANEX process for trivalent actinides separation from PUREX raffinate
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Beschreibung
Recycling of nuclear spent fuel and reduction of its radiotoxicity by separation of long-lived
radionuclides would definitely help to close the nuclear fuel cycle ensuring sustainability of
the nuclear energy. Partitioning of the main radiotoxicity contributors followed by their
conversion into short-lived radioisotopes is known as partitioning and transmutation strategy.
To ensure efficient transmutation of the separated elements (minor actinides) the content of
lanthanides in the irradiation targets has to be minimised. This objective can be attained by
solvent extraction using highly selective ligands that are able to separate these two groups of
elements from each other.
The objective of this study was to develop a novel process allowing co-separation of minor
actinides and lanthanides from a high active acidic feed solution with subsequent actinide
recovery using just one cycle, so-called innovative SANEX process. The conditions of each
step of the process were optimised to ensure high actinide separation efficiency. Additionally,
screening tests of several novel lipophilic and hydrophilic ligands provided by University of
Twente were performed. These tests were aiming in better understanding the influence of the
extractant structural modifications onto An(III)/Ln(III) selectivity and complexation
properties.
Autor*in
Michał Sypuła