Study of the thorium-uranium separation process in pulsed sieve-plate columns: Pt. 1

Hydrodynamics behaviour of pulsed sieve-plate columns was studied in 2-inch pulsed sieve-plate columns with two systems-30% TBP(OK)/Th(NO3)4UO2(NO3)2 and 30% TBP(OK)/H2O, under the condition of the Thorex Process. Flooding flow rate, hold-up and some other hydrodynamic parameters are presented. Experimental data are correlated with two kinds of modified Pratt's formulas. Comparison between the calculated values of hold-up and the experimental values show that the agreement for the values is fairly good, the mean relative deviation being<+- 5%. The study also gives the optimum operation conditions which is used in the mass-transfer experiments of the Thorex process