Simulation study of tritium extraction behaviour in Purex process

Stringent environmental norms require confinement of tritium and its proper disposal during solvent extraction operations of reprocessing. Current solvent extraction flowsheets have provision for tritium scrubbing from loaded solvent. Quantitative models for tritium distribution are not available in the literature. Using the published distribution data, authors developed an empirical model for tritium distribution in nitric acid-30% TBP/n-dodecane system at 298.2 K. Published flowsheet runs for tritium scrubbing were simulated by computer code SIMPSEX and the results could be predicted with a sufficient degree of accuracy. In this report, the results of benchmarking simulation experiments are discussed. (author)