REMOVAL OF RESIDUAL URANIUM IN SIMULATED RADWASTE SOLUTION BY TBP EXTRACTION

The extraction behavior of uranium in a multicomponent system simulate d on the basis of high-level liquid waste was examined in order to fin d effective conditions for the removal of residual uranium in a simula ted radwaste solution by the TBP solvent extraction method. While the conventional semiempirical equation for the distribution coefficient o f uranium could be used in a system composed of only uranium and nitri c acid, it was found to be unsuitable for a multicomponent system wher e the concentration of uranium is not dominant. Uranium extractability by TBP was found to be limited in multicomponents systems regardless of high TBP concentration, phase ratio, and extraction times because o f the presence of neodymium and iron together with uranium in the syst ems.