Separation methods for the pretreatment of the liquid fraction of high-level nuclear waste (HLW) at the Savannah River Site (SRS) include solvent extraction for the separation of cesium and adsorption/ion exchange for the removal of strontium and alpha-emitting actinides. The solvent extraction process, referred to as Caustic Side Solvent Extraction or CSSX, uses a calixarene extractant in combination with phase modifiers in a hydrocarbon diluent. Monosodium titanate (MST), a hydrous metal oxide, is the baseline material for the removal of strontium and alpha-emitting radionuclides (principally 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu and 237Np). Two pretreatment facilities, the Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU) and the Actinide Removal Process (ARP) facility began radioactive operations at SRS in 2008. Together these facilities can treat approximately 4 million liters of waste per year. The same separation processes are also planned for the much larger Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF). The SWPF, which has a design throughput of about 27 million liters per year, is scheduled to begin radioactive operations in 2013. This paper presents an overview of the separation processes as well as recent research and development activities aimed at improving separation performance in the pretreatment facilities.
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ASME 2009 12th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management
October 11–15, 2009
Liverpool, UK
Conference Sponsors:
- Nuclear Engineering Division and Environmental Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4407-6
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Separation of Fission Products and Actinides From Savannah River Site High-Level Nuclear Wastes
T. B. Peters,
T. B. Peters
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
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M. R. Poirier,
M. R. Poirier
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
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F. F. Fondeur,
F. F. Fondeur
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
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C. A. Nash,
C. A. Nash
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
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D. T. Hobbs,
D. T. Hobbs
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
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S. D. Fink
S. D. Fink
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
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T. B. Peters
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
M. R. Poirier
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
F. F. Fondeur
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
C. A. Nash
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
D. T. Hobbs
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
S. D. Fink
Savannah River National Lab, Aiken, SC
Paper No:
ICEM2009-16174, pp. 601-610; 10 pages
Published Online:
December 12, 2010
Citation
Peters, TB, Poirier, MR, Fondeur, FF, Nash, CA, Hobbs, DT, & Fink, SD. "Separation of Fission Products and Actinides From Savannah River Site High-Level Nuclear Wastes." Proceedings of the ASME 2009 12th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management. ASME 2009 12th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management, Volume 1. Liverpool, UK. October 11–15, 2009. pp. 601-610. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICEM2009-16174
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