Kinetics of extraction of ruthenium with tri-n-butyl phosphate/dodecane

Ruthenium is one of the troublesome nuclides during the reprocessing of spent fast breeder reactor fuels, in solvent extraction stage. Hence, understanding the extraction kinetics of ruthenium by the solvent, 30% TBP is essential for the selection of extraction equipment. The extraction kinetics of ruthenium from nitric acid solutions by TBP was investigated in this work using Lewis cell at different impeller speeds and A/O ratios to determine the rate and mass transfer coefficient for the purpose of establishing the rate limiting step and the results are reported. Analysis of the experimental data indicated the extraction kinetics of ruthenium with TBP to follow a slow reaction regime. (author)