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Purification of U from U-10Mo scrap generated during the fabrication of high performance research reactor fuel.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Purification of U from U-10Mo scrap generated during the fabrication of high performance research reactor fuel.
Authors: Rudisill, Tracy S.1 (AUTHOR) tracy.rudisill@srnl.doe.gov, Pereira, Candido2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Separation Science & Technology. 2026, Vol. 61 Issue 3-5, p501-513. 13p.
Subjects: Solvent extraction, Research reactors, Nuclear fuels, Uranium mining, Uranium enrichment
Geographic Terms: United States
Abstract: A low enriched U-Mo alloy fuel is under development to replace highly enriched U fuels currently used in United States high performance research reactors. The alloy casting and fuel fabrication processes will generate scrap streams containing low enriched U (LEU) which must be recovered. Solvent extraction processes were designed using the Argonne Model for Universal Solvent Extraction (AMUSE) to purify solutions containing 20 and 50 g/L U. The feed for the solvent extraction processes was prepared from solutions generated from the dissolution of U-10Mo-Zr foils and U-10Mo-Zr-Al mini-plates. The U purification processes were demonstrated using two, 16-stage banks of miniature mixer-settlers. The solvent extraction experiments demonstrated that all design objectives for the U purification processes could be met. The U recovery in the product stream for each flowsheet was ≥99.9%. The flowsheet demonstrations also showed that the purity of the U Product will meet the requirements of the ASTM International C1462-21 specification for LEU metal enriched to less than 20% 235U. The AMUSE modeling for both flowsheet demonstrations was validated by comparing predicted and measured concentrations of U, Mo, and Zr in the exit streams and stage samples at steady-state conditions in the mixer-settlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:A low enriched U-Mo alloy fuel is under development to replace highly enriched U fuels currently used in United States high performance research reactors. The alloy casting and fuel fabrication processes will generate scrap streams containing low enriched U (LEU) which must be recovered. Solvent extraction processes were designed using the Argonne Model for Universal Solvent Extraction (AMUSE) to purify solutions containing 20 and 50 g/L U. The feed for the solvent extraction processes was prepared from solutions generated from the dissolution of U-10Mo-Zr foils and U-10Mo-Zr-Al mini-plates. The U purification processes were demonstrated using two, 16-stage banks of miniature mixer-settlers. The solvent extraction experiments demonstrated that all design objectives for the U purification processes could be met. The U recovery in the product stream for each flowsheet was ≥99.9%. The flowsheet demonstrations also showed that the purity of the U Product will meet the requirements of the ASTM International C1462-21 specification for LEU metal enriched to less than 20% 235U. The AMUSE modeling for both flowsheet demonstrations was validated by comparing predicted and measured concentrations of U, Mo, and Zr in the exit streams and stage samples at steady-state conditions in the mixer-settlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:01496395
DOI:10.1080/01496395.2024.2428357