Process for the extraction of technetium from uranium
A spent fuel reprocessing method contacts an aqueous solution containing Technetium(V) and uranyl with an acidic solution comprising hydroxylamine hydrochloride or acetohydroxamic acid to reduce Tc(V) to Tc(II, and then extracts the uranyl with an organic phase, leaving technetium(II) in aqueous solution.
1. A spent fuel reprocessing method comprising contacting an aqueous solution containing Technetium(V) and uranyl with an acidic solution comprising hydroxylamine hydrochloride or acetohydroxamic acid to reduce Tc(V) to Tc(II), and then extracting the uranyl with an organic phase, leaving technetium(II) in aqueous solution.
2. A method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution is contacted with acetohydroxamic acid.
3. A method of claim 1 in which the aqueous phase comprises U, Tc and an inorganic acid.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the acidic solution comprises mineral acid.
5. A Purex reprocessing method comprising treating an active aqueous solvent feed entering a U/Pu split operation with an acidic solution comprising hydroxylamine hydrochloride or acetohydroxamic acid to reduce Tc(V) to Tc(II), and then extracting a uranyl with an organic phase, leaving technetium(II) in aqueous solution.
6. A method of claim 5 in which the aqueous solvent feed comprises U, Tc and an inorganic acid.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the acidic solution comprises mineral acid.