Modification in Purex process using supported liquid membrane separation of cerium(III) via oxidation to cerium(IV)from fission products from nitrate medium by SLM

The separation of cerium from fission products during Purex process have been achieved successfully. Cerium(III) has been oxidized to Ce(IV) by 9 M HNO3 and 2 M NaBrO3, Ce(IV) was stable for a long time (6 months) and separated from Uranium(IV) completely. The separation factor was found to be 3. The effect of 30% TBP-kerosene and different cations, Zr(IV) and Mo(VI) using supported liquid membrane on the extraction process have been studied. The effect of temperature has been studied and the activation energy of the reactions has been evaluated to be 19.04, 12.01 kcal/mol for Ce(III) and Ce(W), respectively, which suggested that this process is chemical reaction controlled under this hydrodynamic condition. The membrane stability has been studied for a long time pertraction and in terms of adsorbed doses demonstrates the stability of membrane in such systems. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.