Control of fine particles accumulation in the extraction chromatography column system for minor actinide recovery

MA回収用抽出クロマトカラム中における微細粒子の挙動評価

渡部 創  ; 後藤 一郎; 佐野 雄一   ; 野村 和則  ; 駒 義和  

Watanabe, So; Goto, Ichiro; Sano, Yuichi; Nomura, Kazunori; Koma, Yoshikazu

Clogging of the extraction chromatography column caused by inflow of insoluble residue into the bed possible to lead accumulation of decay heat and explosive gas inside the bed. Behavior of small particle is necessary to be investigated to prevent hazardous events. In this study, influence of fine particles contained in the feed solution on the clogging and on separation performance of the bed were evaluated by laboratory scale experiments. Discharging operation of the simulated particles from the bed was experimentally demonstrated using an engineering scale system. The particles were accumulated on top of the bed and hardly come inside the bed. Backwashing operation was effective to discharge a part of the accumulated powder. Supplying water into the column with normal flow rate condition was possible after the short time backwashing operation. Backwashing with cold water as a normal operation must be one of the most appropriate countermeasures for preventing from the clogging.