Laboratory development of the grind-leach process for the H.T.G.C.R. fuel cycle, Part 4 - leaching and dissolution of beryllia-based fuels
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Date
1967-07
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Publisher
Australian Atomic Energy Commission
Abstract
This report covers the chemical development of an acid-leach head-end process for the separation of (U,Th)02 from a beryllia matrix. The work is related to a feasibility study of the H.G.T.C.R. fuel cycle. Although more than 99 per cent of the actinides can be recovered in a single batch nitric acid leach, more than 30 per cent of the beryllia is dissolved. When it was found that sulphuric acid selectively dissolved the beryllia, a two-step process using nitric and sulphuric acids in sequence was developed, with recycling of the actinide-rich heel to the next batch. Preliminary results from multi-batch experiments indicate that it might be possible to decrease the beryllia loss to the nitrate stream to 10 per cent and still recover 99 per cent of the actinides. Further development of the process would involve the use of proven reactor material irradiated to high burn-up. Suggestions for further research are given.
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Keywords
Separation processes, Leaching, Dissolution, Beryllium oxides, Fuel cycle
Citation
Shying, M. E., Lee, E. J., & Farrell, M. S. (1967). Laboratory development of the grind-leach process for the H.T.G.C.R. fuel cycle part 4. leaching and dissolution of beryllia-based fuels (AAEC/E180). Lucas Heights, NSW: Research Establishment, Australian Atomic Energy Commission.