Study on cleaing solvents using activated alumina in PUREX process

Arai, Yoichi  ; Ogino, Hideki; Takeuchi, Masayuki ; Kase, Takeshi ; Nakajima, Yasuo  

Solvent cleanup method using activated alumina was discussed in this study. This method was one of candidate to remove TBP/-dodecane degradation products. The degradation sample of 30% TBP/-dodecane was prepared by irradiation (1.6 MGy) using Co -source. The absorbed dose for sample was almost 1.6 MGy. The degradation products were qualitatively analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). After the irradiation, solvent cleanup was performed by activated alumina and the cleanup using alumina was examined by phase separation test with 3M HNO. As the result, it was found that hexane and long-chain alcohols were mainly generated as the n-dodecane degradation products by irradiation, and almost 70% of the TBP/-dodecane degradation products were removed and the phase separation performance were improved by the cleanup using activated alumina.