CORRELATION OF FILTRATE FLOW-RATE FOR IRRADIATED AND UNIRRADIATED TETRAPHENYLBORATE SLURRIES

The filtrate flow rates obtained during the cross-flow filtration of s lurries are dependent on the properties of the slurry particles. Tetra phenylborate is used to precipitate radioactive cesium from supernate salt solutions at the Savannah River Site. These slurries are then pro cessed by a sequence of filtration steps. However, prior to the last f iltration step, the slurries are exposed to significant doses of irrad iation that appear to dramatically change the properties of these part icles. A concomitant decrease in filter performance has been observed. An empirical model has been developed to predict the impact of irradi ation on filtration. This model also predicts the dependency of perfor mance on axial velocity and pressure drop.