Batch crystallization of uranyl nitrate

Chikazawa, Takahiro*; Kikuchi, Toshiaki*; Shibata, Atsuhiro  ; Koyama, Tomozo; Homma, Shunji*

Batch crystallization of uranyl nitrate is carried out in order to obtain fundamental data required for the development of reprocessing involving crystallization. Particular attention is paid to the development of a method for predicting the concentrations of uranium and nitric acid in the mother liquor and the amount of uranyl nitrate crystals produced. Initial concentrations of uranyl nitrate and nitric acid are 500-600 g/dm and 4-6 mol/dm, respectively, corresponding to the condition of a dissolver solution of spent fuel. Steady-state mass balance equations including the correlation equation for the equilibrium solubility of uranium nitrate are applied to the prediction. The calculated concentrations of uranium and nitric acid are in close agreement with the experimental ones. The recovery of uranium is accurately predicted by the calculated concentrations, with an error of less than 5%.