Radiation chemistry and the nuclear fuel cycle

Mincher, Bruce J.; Elias, Gracy; Martin, Leigh R.; Mezyk, Stephen P.

doi:10.1007/s10967-009-0156-x

Cited by 22 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…To date, several hydrophilic ligands have been developed, but none of them has fully matched all the constraints [21][22][23]. In particular, the resistance towards hydrolysis and radiolysis is an undeniable key requirement in view of the scale-up of advanced SNF partitioning processes owing to the significant radionuclides content in the PUREX raffinate [24][25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiolytic degradation of hydrophilic PyTri ligands for minor actinide recycling

Mossini

Macerata

Panzeri

et al. 2019

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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The 2,6-bis[1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]-pyridine (PyTri) chelating unit has already shown promising properties for application to advanced hydrometallurgical processes aimed at recovering minor actinides from highly active raffinate. Radiolytic stability is an undeniable key requirement for chemicals involved in highly radioactive solutions partitioning, since radiolysis can have a huge impact on system safety and performances. In this work, the radiolytic degradation of two hydrophilic PyTri complexing agents was investigated by different analytical techniques. The radiation damage was delivered by a 60 Co source. The main radiation-induced ligand degradation by-products were hypothesized. Unprecedented PyTri ligands radiolytic stability was proved, further recommending their implementation in future partitioning processes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiolytic degradation of hydrophilic PyTri ligands for minor actinide recycling

Mossini

Macerata

Panzeri

et al. 2019

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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“…Radiolytic degradation results in the consumption of the extracting agent and in the production of degradation products, affecting important parameters of solvent extraction systems such as distribution ratios, selectivity, loading capacity, phase disengagement times etc. [16].…”

Section: Radiolytic Stabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

SACSESS – the EURATOM FP7 project on actinide separation from spent nuclear fuels

2015

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Recycling of actinides by their separation from spent nuclear fuel, followed by transmutation in fast neutron reactors of Generation IV, is considered the most promising strategy for nuclear waste management. Closing the fuel cycle and burning long-lived actinides allows optimizing the use of natural resources and minimizing the long-term hazard of high-level nuclear waste. Moreover, improving the safety and sustainability of nuclear power worldwide. This paper presents the activities striving to meet these challenges, carried out under the Euratom FP7 collaborative project SACSESS (Safety of Actinide Separation Processes). Emphasis is put on the safety issues of fuel reprocessing and waste storage. Two types of actinide separation processes, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical, are considered, as well as related aspects of material studies, process modeling and the radiolytic stability of solvent extraction systems. Education and training of young researchers in nuclear chemistry is of particular importance for further development of this field.

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“…Non-radiolytic or thermal nitration has been discussed with other nitric acid oxidation reactions under the category "hydrolysis" in the literature. Using anisole as a model compound it was shown that the major nitrated products in both irradiated and unirradiated solution are the same and consist of the ortho-, and para-substituted nitroanisoles and nitrophenol (35). These are the products of the nitrous acid catalyzed reaction.…”

Section: Radiolytic and Hydolytic Nitration Reactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, these fast reactions produce Ccentered radicals in analogy with the similar reactions by • OH radicals reported above, which may then add N-centered radicals to create nitrated products. An example is shown for TBP in eq 33 (46): Experiments with anisole in irradiated neutral sodium nitrite solution have shown that • NO 2 radical is capable of addition to aromatic compounds in the condensed phase, providing low yields of ortho-, meta-, and para-nitroanisole (35). The meta-product is present at the highest concentration, reflecting the statistical substitution of the aromatic ring expected from • NO 2 radical addition.…”

Section: Radiolytic and Hydolytic Nitration Reactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview of Selected Radiation Chemical Reactions Affecting Fuel Cycle Solvent Extraction

Mincher

2010

ACS Symposium Series

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Aqueous solvent extraction for the recovery of uranium and plutonium from dissolved nuclear fuel has been used successfully since the advent of the nuclear age. Following decades of PUREX operating experience in several countries, new solvent extraction processes are now being developed worldwide to extract additional long-lived radionuclides , including especially the minor actindes. These must be partitioned from the lanthanides in what is an especially challenging separation. These new processes rely on specialty ligands as metal complexing agents. They must be reasonably stable to hydrolytic and radiolytic degradation in the acidic, irradiated biphasic system. Solvent system degradation may lead to decreases in ligand concentration, production of interfering degradation products, and changes in solvent viscocity and phase separation parameters. Therefore, research is underway in the USA, Europe and Asia with a goal of understanding these affects on solvent extraction efficiency for specific systems. This chapter presents an overview of the important reactions that are common to all solvent extraction systems with reference to recent research findings at Idaho National Lab (INL) and elsewhere. It is shown that indirect radiolysis by reaction with radiolytically produced reactive species such as hydroxyl radical, radical cations and nitrous acid is responsible for much ligand and diluent degradation.

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Radiation chemistry and the nuclear fuel cycle

Cited by 22 publications

References 17 publications

Radiolytic degradation of hydrophilic PyTri ligands for minor actinide recycling

Radiolytic degradation of hydrophilic PyTri ligands for minor actinide recycling

SACSESS – the EURATOM FP7 project on actinide separation from spent nuclear fuels

An Overview of Selected Radiation Chemical Reactions Affecting Fuel Cycle Solvent Extraction

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