Physicochemical properties of PUREX solvent on hydrolytic and chemical treatment

Physicochemical properties such as density, viscosity, interfacial tension, and phase disengagement time were measured after subjecting tri-butyl phosphate based solvent systems to hydrolytic and chemical treatment at 40 and 60 °C for significant time. Variations in viscosity, phase separation time and interfacial tension were significant compared to fresh solvent, suggesting the fluid-dynamics of the system may be altered at high temperature of 60 °C. The marginal variation in the interfacial tension values even after accelerated treatment at 40 °C and the FT-IR spectral analysis of treated solvent, revealed the solvent to exhibited good hydrolytic and chemical stability at 40 °C. (author)