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With a salt composition corresponding to the basic eutectic (LiF – AlF3, 85 – 15 mol %), up to 99
% of Pu and Am could be recovered in a single stage, with separation factors from Ce and Sm exceeding
1000. The distribution coefficients logically decrease as the initial AlF3 concentration increases.
A thermodynamic model has been developed on the basis of the experimental results to
simulate the extraction efficiency versus fluoroacidity. The model clearly reveals the difference in
solvation between divalent and trivalent lanthanides in fluoride media. The experimental results
compared to those obtained without Cu being present in the metallic phase, are summarised in
Table 1.
Table 1 Mass distribution coefficients and separation factors of actinides and lanthanides with and
without Cu in the metallic phase
Al – Cu (78-22 %mole) Al
M DM SAm/M M DM SAm/M
Pu 197 ± 30 0.73 ± 0.21 Pu 273 ± 126 0.78 ± 0.47
Am 144 ± 20 1 Am 213 ± 30 1
Ce 0.142 ± 0.01 1014 ± 213 Cm 185 ± 31 1.15 ± 0.35
Sm 0.062 ± 0.006 2323 ± 488 Ce 0.162 ± 0 .02 1315 ± 289
Eu < 0.013 >11000 Sm 0.044 ± 0.004 4954 ± 1139
La < 0.06 >2400 Eu < 0.03 >7100
La 0.03 7100
The results show that the distribution ratios of Pu and Am have similar high values independent
from the presence of Cu in the metallic phase and in all cases high separation efficiency from lanthanides.
4. Conclusions
Performed in close international collaborations, the research in the European projects PARTNEW,
PYROREP, EUROPART has led to important progress in the field of actinide partitioning:
Considering hydrochemistry technology:
• the processes have reached lab-scale demonstration and are more or less suitable for industrial
implementation
• new large scale facilities for advanced reprocessing demonstrations are needed
• consolidation and optimization are required for some processes
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