Process for separating by means of crown ethers the uranium and plutonium present in an aqueous medium resulting from the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels
US5028402A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jul 2, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG21F9/04
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Process for separating plutonium from uranium contained in a nitric acid aqueous solution from the reprocessing of irradiated fuels comprising plutonium, uranium and fission products by means of crown ethers. Nitric acid aqueous solution (5) containing plutonium, uranium and fission products is contacted at (2) with an organic liquid membrane (3) containing a crown ether. The uranium and plutonium are extracted in the liquid membrane (3) and then transferred by said membrane into a receiving solution (7), which becomes enriched with uranium, because the latter is transferred more rapidly than the plutonium. The crown ether can be DCH 18 C6 or DB 18 C6.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.