Americium and curium recovery using extraction chromatography from simulated acidic raffinate from the PUREX process

Matsumura, Tatsuro  ; Morita, Yasuji  ; Matsumura, Kazumi; Sano, Yuichi   ; Koma, Yoshikazu  ; Nomura, Kazunori  

As a part of the FaCT project, R&D of a reprocessing system for fast reactor spent fuel has been conducted. In the system, trivalent minor actinides (An(III) = Am(III) + Cm(III)) are recovered by the method of extraction chromatography from a raffinate from the reprocessing process. The chemical flowsheet is composed of the two cycles system; An(III) + lanthanides (Ln)(III) recovery and An(III)/Ln(III) separation. A best combination of extractants should be considered on the latest extractant development for application. In the course of our development, CMPO and TODGA for An(III) + Ln(III) recovery, and HDEHP, TOPEN and isoHEX-BTP for An(III)/Ln(III) separation were investigated. The adsorbent for the extraction chromatography is based on the composite material of porous silica support and polystyrenedivinylbenzene (SiO-P) impregnated with the extractants. The flowsheet tests using simulated acidic raffinate from reprocessing process containing TRU tracers were carried out. In this study, it was demonstrated that Am and Cm can be separated from the simulated raffinate with combinations TODGA adsorbent column and isoHEX-BTP adsorbent column or TOPEN adsorbent column. The flow sheets will separate An(III) effectively by improving condition of flow velocity, column length and ionic strength of the feed solution.