Effects of Solvent Recycling on Radiolysis Behaviors of 30%TBP-Kerosene

In order to understand the irradiation stability of solvent in the real Purex process, the radiolysis behaviors of 30%TBP-kerosene-HNO₃ during α or γ static-state continuous and dynamic recycling irradiation were studied. The results show that the static-state continuous irradiation has more prominent effect on degradation products, plutonium and ruthenium retention in the organic phase than dynamic recycling irradiation. When the absorbed dose is 1.0×10⁵ Gy（the number of recycling is 20）, plutonium retention by static-state continuous irradiation is 10 times as large as by dynamic recycling irradiation. It is approved that the number of recycling will be more by the regular cleanup of degradation products (such as HDBP, H₂MBP, and so on) before its recycling in the real Purex process, where the solvent is recycled after alkaline cleanup followed by acidification. On the other hand, the radiolytic degradation of 30%TBP-kerosene-HNO₃ by α irradiation is higher than γ irradiation.