Effects of aqueous phase radiolysis on organic complexants used for trivalent actinide/lanthanide separations

Leigh R. Martin, Bruce J. Mincher, Stephen P. Mezyk, Richard D. Tillotson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Understanding the radiolytic degradation behavior of organic molecules involved in new or existing schemes for the recycling of used nuclear fuels is of significant interest for sustaining a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The high radiation fields that exist in dissolved nuclear fuels, and raffinates from processed fuel, produce a variety of transient and long-lived species which react with the reagents that facilitate these separations. The TALSPEAK process (Trivalent Actinide Lanthanide Separations by Phosphorus-reagent Extraction from Aqueous Komplexes) for the separation of the trivalent lanthanide and actinide elements is one process that has been receiving increased attention in recent years. However, there is little information available on the radiation resistance of the aqueous phase complexants lactic acid and diethylenetriamine-N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) used to accomplish the separation. This paper will discuss the results of our initial investigations into the radiolytic degradation of TALSPEAK aqueous phases and the resulting effects on the trivalent actinide/lanthanide separation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAmerican Chemical Society - 238th National Meeting and Exposition, ACS 2009, Abstracts of Scientific Papers
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes
Event238th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society, ACS 2009 - Washington, DC, United States
Duration: Aug 16 2009Aug 20 2009

Publication series

NameACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts
ISSN (Print)0065-7727

Conference

Conference238th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society, ACS 2009
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWashington, DC
Period08/16/0908/20/09

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