Alpha and gamma radiolysis of nuclear solvent extraction ligands used for An(III) and Ln(III) separations
Journal article, 2013

The separation of the minor actinides from dissolved nuclear fuel remains a major challenge in developing large-scale waste separations processes. One important criterion is that all these processes must be robust under high acidity and radiation dose conditions. Here we have investigated the TRUEX ligand CMPO in dodecane, comparing the effects of gamma (Co-60) with alpha irradiation using isotopic alpha sources (Cm-244, At-211). The radiolytically-based CMPO decomposition efficiencies are approximately the same for both types of radiolysis, with the overall decomposition being significantly less when this formulation is irradiated in contact with aqueous acid.

Radicals

Gamma radiolysis

TRUEX

Alpha radiolysis

Solvent extraction

CMPO

Author

S. P. Mezyk

The California State University

B. J. Mincher

Idaho National Laboratory

Christian Ekberg

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Nuclear Chemistry

Gunnar Skarnemark

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Nuclear Chemistry

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

0236-5731 (ISSN) 1588-2780 (eISSN)

Vol. 296 2 711-715

Subject Categories

Subatomic Physics

DOI

10.1007/s10967-012-2036-z

More information

Latest update

5/24/2024