An efficient elution method of tetravalent uranium from anion exchanger by using formic acid solution

Abstract

In recent years, we have been investigating the development of the ERIX (The Electrolytic Reduction and Ion Exchange) process for reprocessing spent FBR-MOX fuel. This process uses electrolytic reduction and ion exchange techniques to recover U, Pu from spent FBR-MOX fuel solution. It was found that despite of the high nitric acid concentration, U(VI) can be effectively reduced to U(IV) using a flow type electrolytic cell in the existence of hydrazine and the U(IV) can be completely separated from fission products by the anion exchanger, AR-01. In addition, it was proposed that a part of U is assigned to be recovered together with Pu and Np for reusing as a FBR-MOX fuel. For that purpose, we are investigating an efficient elution method of Pu(IV) and U(IV) from AR-01. In this work, to develop an efficient elution method of U(IV) from AR-01, we have examined the U(IV) elution behavior by formic acid and the complex-formation of U(IV) with HCOO−.