Application example: uranium-plutonium partitioning
Matter transfer - liquid-liquid extraction with chemical reaction
Article REF: J1078 V1
Application example: uranium-plutonium partitioning
Matter transfer - liquid-liquid extraction with chemical reaction

Authors : Arnaud BUCH, Mohammed RAKIB, Moncef STAMBOULI

Publication date: June 10, 2009 | Lire en français

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3. Application example: uranium-plutonium partitioning

Let's consider the case of the return of a metal species M from a solvent phase S to an aqueous phase A. To promote this de-extraction, we modify the valence state of M in the aqueous phase using an appropriate reagent B. M then becomes M′ inextractable by solvent S.

This example provides a simplified illustration of reductive plutonium removal in the nuclear fuel reprocessing industry, known as the "Uranium/Plutonium Partitioning Stage" of the PUREX process.

More precisely, it is a redox reaction (known as "functional") in the aqueous phase reducing plutonium from its oxidation state IV to III by means of uranium IV according to the reaction :

2Pu4+M+U4+B+2H2UO22+M+2Pu3++4H+
...
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Application example: uranium-plutonium partitioning

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