The control of actinide distribution between tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) and nitric acid is important for nuclear fuel reprocessing via the PUREX process. Uranium(VI) is typically extracted into TBP as a water soluble nitrate complex UO2(NO3)2�(TBP)2. Radiolytic and hydrolytic decomposition products of TBP, particularly di-n-butylphosphate (HDBP), reduces this separation due to the formation of organic soluble complexes [UO2(DBP)2�(HDBP)x and UO2(NO3)(DBP)�(HDBP)x where x = 1 or 2 and DBP is deprotonated HDBP] between the phosphate and U(VI) ions. The result is reduced efficiency of uranium recovery by solvent extraction. Multinuclear solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry has been employed to analyze secondary extraction PUREX samples to better characterize TBP and HDBP complexes with U(VI) as well as quantify the uranium content remaining in the organic phase. TBP degradation due to radiolysis and acidic hydrolysis over time was also investigated.

Influence of Tri-<i>n</i>-butylphosphate degradation on actinide extraction using multinuclear NMR spectrometry

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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Influence of Tri-n-butylphosphate degradation on actinide extraction using multinuclear NMR spectrometry