The processing of used nuclear fuel in alkaline solution provides potentially useful new selectivity for separating the actinides from each other and from the fission products. Over the last decade, several research teams around the world have considered dissolution of used fuel in alkaline solution and further partitioning in this medium as an alternative to acid dissolution. Most work to date has focused on carbonate, peroxide, or carbonate-peroxide solutions and using selective precipitation methods. A limited amount of work on the use of liquid-liquid extraction, ion exchange, and extraction chromatography for actinide separations in alkaline solution has been reported. Most of the coordination chemistry in alkaline solution has been studied under conditions where only one major anionic ligand is present. There are many combinations of ligands that could provide new separation possibilities. A more intensive investigation of the area of actinide alkaline solution chemistry appears warranted.

Development of actinide separations in alkaline solutions

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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