| Fundamental diffusion and chemical reaction theory have been used to model the Purex;The Purex process utilizes a nitric acid based aqueous phase and a tri-butyl phosphate (TBP)-dodecane organic phase. TBP is the extracting agent in the dodecane diluent. The practical application lies in reprocessing spent nuclear reactor fuel of which zirconium is a fission product. It is necessary to purify recyclable materials (primarily uranium and plutonium), and isolate the waste (fission products and some actinides).;While a good deal of study has been conducted with zirconium in the Purex process since the 1940's, this work usually had one or more of the following limitations, (1) equilibrium only, (2) empirical, and/or (3) consideration of diffusion or chemical reaction, but not both combined. This study indicated diffusion and chemical reaction both significantly affect the overall mass transfer rate of zirconium for the specific process conditions and contracting equipment of the study. ftn... |
