Feasibility studies for partitioning of actinides from alkaline intermediate level liquid waste using a six stage mixer settler

Versatic acid (VA-10) is found to be a candidate as extractant for removal of alpha emitting actinides from alkaline intermediate level liquid waste (ILLW) having initial concentration of Pu (0.86 mg/L) and Am (1.2x10-4 mg/L). A six stage mixer settler was fabricated and experiments conducted to treat the ILLW using 20% versatic acid in dodecane. Most of the alpha activity could be removed from the alkaline waste and leaving behind the α-activity to < 100 nCi/gm, thus converting alkaline waste into a stream with negligible alpha content. (author). 3 refs., 2 tabs