Partitioning of U(VI) and Eu(III) between acidic aqueous Al(NO 3)3 and tributyl phosphate in n-dodecane

R. C. Harrington; L. R. Martin; K. L. Nash

doi:10.1080/01496390600750909

Partitioning of U(VI) and Eu(III) between acidic aqueous Al(NO ₃)₃ and tributyl phosphate in n-dodecane

R. C. Harrington
, L. R. Martin
, K. L. Nash

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The preferred approach to removing Al from Hanford tank sludges, based on aqueous alkaline leaching, often does not achieve complete success. Previous laboratory investigations on the treatment of Hanford tank sludge simulant samples indicate that an acidic scrub can enhance the dissolution of Al from various sludge matrices. If acidic leaching was deployed to enhance removal of tank waste residues, the resulting acidic Al(NO 3 ) 3 leachate solution could contain measurable amounts of solubilized transuranic elements and so would demand treatment prior to disposal. In this study, a liquid-liquid extraction system for the decontamination of the HNO 3 /Al(NO 3 ) 3 aqueous leachate by contact with 60% v/v tributyl phosphate (TBP)/ n- dodecane organic solution has been examined. The partitioning of U and Eu between the TBP phase and solutions of varying [HNO 3 ] and [Al(NO 3 ) 3 ] containing small amounts of Cr or ascorbic acid have been investigated. The results indicate that ≥99% of both species could be removed from the aqueous phase using such a process.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2283-2298
Number of pages	16
Journal	Separation Science and Technology (Philadelphia)
Volume	41
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/01496390600750909
State	Published - Jun 1 2006
Externally published	Yes

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Department of Energy Environmental Management Science Program for funding this work. Much appreciation is felt towards all the members of the Dr. Kenneth L. Nash and Sue B. Clark radiochemistry laboratories at Washington State University. A final acknowledgement is due to the Nuclear Radiation Center (NRC) at WSU for the production of the Eu radioisotopes used in this study.

Keywords

Al(NO)
Solvent extraction
Tank waste cleanup
Tributyl phosphate

Access to Document

10.1080/01496390600750909

Cite this

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title = "Partitioning of U(VI) and Eu(III) between acidic aqueous Al(NO 3)3 and tributyl phosphate in n-dodecane",

abstract = "The preferred approach to removing Al from Hanford tank sludges, based on aqueous alkaline leaching, often does not achieve complete success. Previous laboratory investigations on the treatment of Hanford tank sludge simulant samples indicate that an acidic scrub can enhance the dissolution of Al from various sludge matrices. If acidic leaching was deployed to enhance removal of tank waste residues, the resulting acidic Al(NO 3 ) 3 leachate solution could contain measurable amounts of solubilized transuranic elements and so would demand treatment prior to disposal. In this study, a liquid-liquid extraction system for the decontamination of the HNO 3 /Al(NO 3 ) 3 aqueous leachate by contact with 60\% v/v tributyl phosphate (TBP)/ n- dodecane organic solution has been examined. The partitioning of U and Eu between the TBP phase and solutions of varying [HNO 3 ] and [Al(NO 3 ) 3 ] containing small amounts of Cr or ascorbic acid have been investigated. The results indicate that ≥99\% of both species could be removed from the aqueous phase using such a process.",

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T1 - Partitioning of U(VI) and Eu(III) between acidic aqueous Al(NO 3)3 and tributyl phosphate in n-dodecane

AU - Harrington, R. C.

AU - Martin, L. R.

AU - Nash, K. L.

PY - 2006/6/1

Y1 - 2006/6/1

N2 - The preferred approach to removing Al from Hanford tank sludges, based on aqueous alkaline leaching, often does not achieve complete success. Previous laboratory investigations on the treatment of Hanford tank sludge simulant samples indicate that an acidic scrub can enhance the dissolution of Al from various sludge matrices. If acidic leaching was deployed to enhance removal of tank waste residues, the resulting acidic Al(NO 3 ) 3 leachate solution could contain measurable amounts of solubilized transuranic elements and so would demand treatment prior to disposal. In this study, a liquid-liquid extraction system for the decontamination of the HNO 3 /Al(NO 3 ) 3 aqueous leachate by contact with 60% v/v tributyl phosphate (TBP)/ n- dodecane organic solution has been examined. The partitioning of U and Eu between the TBP phase and solutions of varying [HNO 3 ] and [Al(NO 3 ) 3 ] containing small amounts of Cr or ascorbic acid have been investigated. The results indicate that ≥99% of both species could be removed from the aqueous phase using such a process.

AB - The preferred approach to removing Al from Hanford tank sludges, based on aqueous alkaline leaching, often does not achieve complete success. Previous laboratory investigations on the treatment of Hanford tank sludge simulant samples indicate that an acidic scrub can enhance the dissolution of Al from various sludge matrices. If acidic leaching was deployed to enhance removal of tank waste residues, the resulting acidic Al(NO 3 ) 3 leachate solution could contain measurable amounts of solubilized transuranic elements and so would demand treatment prior to disposal. In this study, a liquid-liquid extraction system for the decontamination of the HNO 3 /Al(NO 3 ) 3 aqueous leachate by contact with 60% v/v tributyl phosphate (TBP)/ n- dodecane organic solution has been examined. The partitioning of U and Eu between the TBP phase and solutions of varying [HNO 3 ] and [Al(NO 3 ) 3 ] containing small amounts of Cr or ascorbic acid have been investigated. The results indicate that ≥99% of both species could be removed from the aqueous phase using such a process.

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KW - Tank waste cleanup

KW - Tributyl phosphate

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