Use of hydroxyiminoalkanoic acids as anti-nitrous agents in operations of reductive stripping of plutonium
AssigneesCommissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives, Orano Cycle
InventorsXavier Heres, Gilles Bernier, Binh Dinh, Patrick Pochon, Danièle Sans, Elisabeth Zekri
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Abstract
The use of hydroxyiminoalkanoic acids including at least four carbon atoms as anti-nitrous agents in operations of reductive stripping of plutonium. The invention may be useful in any method for processing spent nuclear fuels that includes one or more operations of reductive stripping of plutonium and, more particularly, in the PUREX method as implemented in modern nuclear fuel processing plants, as well as in processes derived therefrom.
Claims13
A method of reductive stripping of plutonium from an organic non-water miscible phase comprising an extracting agent and plutonium at an oxidation state IV in an organic diluent, comprising:
- contacting the organic phase with an aqueous phase comprising a reducing agent capable of reducing plutonium(IV) to plutonium(III) and nitric acid;
- then
- separating the so contacted organic and aqueous phases;
- wherein the organic phase or the aqueous phase further comprises at least one anti-nitrous agent, the antinitrous agent being a hydroxyiminoalkanoic acid of general formula O═C(OH)—(R)—CH═N—OH where R is a straight-chain or branched alkylene group having at least 2 carbon atoms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.