Removal of fission products from mixed solvents using zeolites. I. ruthenium removal

The solvent tributylphosphate (TBP) and odorless kerosene (OK) are widely used to extract plutonium(IV) and uranium(V) in nuclear processing plants. Although these solvents are chosen because of their low affinity for fission products it is, nevertheless, of value to study ways of removing the small quantities of fission products, such as isotopes of Cs, Sr and Ru, which can be present in the solvents. This paper describes simple distribution coefficients (Kd) measurements made to test the ability of the aluminosilicate zeolites to remove 106Ru from TBP, OK, and their mixtures. (author). 5 refs., 4 figs., 4 tabs