In this work, three isomeric forms of N, N'-diethyl, N, N'-ditolyldipicolinamide (EtTDPA) were synthesized. The elements thorium through americium, which make up a significant portion of the actinides in used nuclear fuel (with the exception of curium), and two fission products, molybdenum and technetium, were tested for their ability to...
Iodine-129 is a key risk driver at sites where nuclear materials have been fabricated or processed, and it is a predominant isotope of concern in long-term waste storage strategies. I-129 exists primarily as iodate in the subsurface at the Hanford Site in south-central Washington State. Between 15 and 40% of...
Carboxylic acids have played an important role in the field of actinide (An) and lanthanide (Ln) separations and the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel. Recent bench-scale experiments have demonstrated that 3-carboxy-3-hydroxypentanedioic acid (citric acid) is a promising aqueous complexant that can effectively aid in the separation of transition metals from...
Chitosan is a biopolymer resulting from the deacetylation of chitin, the second most abundant biopolymer in nature. Chitosan has been successfully used in systems to remove metal ions and other pollutants from wastewater. Chitosan has shown promise as a sorbent for radionuclides in some aqueous waste streams.
The sorption of...
Effective separation of lanthanides (Ln) from the minor actinides (MA) is a crucial technical challenge to closing the nuclear fuel cycle. This separation is a necessary prerequisite to transmute long-lived isotopes of Am and Cm, which will allow a reduction of the repository volume, thermal load, and radiological toxicity of...
Partitioning of trivalent actinides (in particular, americium and curium) from the
fission produced light lanthanides is a major concern of used nuclear fuel reprocessing for
the purposes of waste disposal. Several solvent extraction processes have been developed
to address these chemically difficult separations. The historically employed TALSPEAK
Process utilizes di-2-ethylhexyl...
Pyroprocessing is an advanced technology for recycling used nuclear fuel. Pyrochemical processes encompass a wide range of chemical, physical, and electrochemical methods to partition fission products and other components from used nuclear fuel, which allows for the reuse of the actinides in nuclear fuel. This dissertation investigates two chemical systems...
This thesis presents an approach to develop innovative methods for decontamination and surface protection applicable to naval nuclear ships and potentially, personnel, replacing antiquated techniques. To accomplish this goal, two products manufactured by CBI Polymers, LLC., DeconGel™ 1101 (1101) and a shampoo, DeconGel™ "prototype" (prototype), were tested.
The prototype was...
An alternative extractant for the TRUEX/UNEX process was investigated in solid phase extraction chromatography. The para and ortho isomers of diamides derivatives of dipicolinic acid (N,N'-diethyl-N,N'-ditolyl-dipicolinamide, EtTDPA) have been found in the past to effectively separate actinides from lanthanides in solvent extraction and were successfully impregnated on two uncoated, inert...
The goal of Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative program is to efficiently separate and recover actinides in attempts to reprocess irradiated nuclear fuel and reduce the necessary storage volume. In order to facilitate large-scale industrial
applications of liquid-liquid separation processes, knowledge of the thermodynamic constants associated with the distribution of metal...