Development of Acetic Acid Removal Technology for the UREX (plus) Process | Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)

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Citation
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HERO ID

1425408

Reference Type

Technical Report

Title

Development of Acetic Acid Removal Technology for the UREX (plus) Process

Author(s)

Counce, RM; Watson, JS

Year

2009

Report Number

NTIS/03280094

Volume

GRA and I

Issue

GRA and I

Abstract

It is imperative that acetic acid is removed from a waste stream in the UREX+process so that nitric acid can be recycled and possible interference with downstreatm steps can be avoidec. Acetic acid arises from acetohydrozamic acid (AHA), and is used to suppress plutonium in the first step of the UREX+process. Later, it is hydrolyzed into hydroxyl amine nitrate and acetic acid. Many common separation technologies were examined, and solvent extraction was determined to be the best choice under process conditions. Solvents already used in the UREX+ process were then tested to determine if they would be sufficient for the removal of acetic acid. The tributyl phosphage (TBP)-dodecane diluent, used in both UREX and NPEX, was determined to be a solvent system that gave sufficient distribution coefficients for acetic acid in addition to a high separation factor from nitric acid.

Keywords

PUREX process; *Acetic acid; *Removal; *Radioactive waste processing; Nitric acid; Recycling; Solvent extraction; Uranium