Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Countercurrent Actinide Lanthanide Separation Process (Alsep) Demonstration Test With A Simulated Purex Raffinate In Centrifugal Contactors On The Laboratory Scale, Andreas Wilden, Fabian Kreft, Dimitri Schneider, Zaina Paparigas, Giuseppe Modolo, Gregg J. Lumetta, Artem V. Gelis, Jack D. Law, Andreas Geist

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

An Actinide Lanthanide Separation Process (ALSEP) for the separation of trivalent actinides (An(III)) from simulated raffinate solution was successfully demonstrated using a 32-stage 1 cm annular centrifugal contactor setup. The ALSEP solvent was composed of a mixture of 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (HEH[EHP]) and N,N,N′,N′-tetra-(2-ethylhexyl)-diglycolamide (T2EHDGA) in n-dodecane. Flowsheet calculations and evaluation of the results were done using the Argonne’s Model for Universal Solvent Extraction (AMUSE) code using single-stage distribution data. The co-extraction of Zr(IV) and Pd(II) was prevented using CDTA (trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid) as a masking agent in the feed. For the scrubbing of co-extracted Mo; citrate-buffered acetohydroxamic acid was …