Radiation-induced effects during the extraction of Pu-239 nitrate with a solution of tributyl phosphate in octafluoropentanol formal

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry 2022-10, Vol.331 (10), p.4405-4412
• Main Authors: Belova, Elena V., Ponomarev, Alexander V., Smirnov, Anton V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidification; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diagnostic Radiology; Electrochemical reactions; Electron beams; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Inorganic Chemistry; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear Physics; Phase distribution; Phase separation; Phosphates; Physical Chemistry; Plutonium 239; Radiation; Radiation dosage; Radiation effects; Radiolysis; Regeneration
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08511-x

Extractive treatment of ≥ 0.2 M 239 Pu solution in an acidified mixture of tributyl phosphate and octafluoropentanol formal is accompanied by radiolytic degradation of the components. The coefficient of plutonium inter-phase distribution decreases by 4.1 times at 470 kGy α-irradiation dose. Cyclic electron beam radiolysis at 140 kGy increases the residual concentration of plutonium in the organic phase by 3–5 times after re-extraction and by 4–6 times after regeneration. The rate of inter-phase separation is reduced by 5 times during extraction, by 4 times during re-extraction, and by 2–3 times during regeneration. Article highlights The extractability of 239 Pu deteriorates due to the reduction of nitrate ions and their replacement by fluoride ions. The formation of heavy radiolytic products causes an increase in viscosity and a slowdown in phase separation. Regeneration of the organic phase serves as a means of eliminating the negative effect of radiolysis at 50–60 kGy.