Amine Extraction In Reprocessing

In the sixteen years since amine extraction was first reported, it has developed into one of the major categories of solvent extraction systems. Its industrial use, particularly in the hydrometallurgical processing of uranium and related metals, has both stimulated and benefitted from the commercial production of an increasing range of high molecular weight amines, especially secondary and tertiary amines. Amine extraction appears to promise special advantages in several aspects of nuclear fuel reprocessing by virtue of high extraction power, selectivity and reagent stability. This review presents recent developments and current status in amine extraction systems as pertinent to their potential use in nuclear fuel reprocessing, including both studies of the extraction systems per se and their adaptation to particular process uses. Proposed chemical flowsheets are cited for a number of processes in and auxiliary to fuel reprocessing. Literature references are arranged so as to facilitate access to previous reviews and bibliographies and to specialized studies of the amine systems. (author)