THE SEPARATION OF NEPTUNIUM AND TECHNETIUM IN AN ADVANCED PUREX PROCESS

Abstract

ABSTRACT An advanced PUREX process has been developed which can reduce TRU waste volume and the environmental hazard risk due to long-lived nuclides. The separation of neptunium and technetium from plutonium and uranium solutions has been studied before the U/ Pu partitioning step in the PUREX process. The effectiveness of normal-butyraldehyde as a reductant of Np( VI) to Np( V) and of high acid scrubbing of technetium was shown in a basic study and a chemical flowsheet study.