Application of Hollow Fiber Contactor in Nondispersive Solvent Extraction of Pu(IV) by TBP

Abstract

Data on dispersion‐free solvent extraction (DFSX) of Pu(IV) from acidic nitrate media using microporous hydrophobic polypropylene hollow fiber membrane contactor with tri‐n‐butylphosphate (TBP) employing as an extractant are being presented. The DFSX operation was carried out with various concentration of TBP in n‐dodecane by passing acidic feed containing Pu (IV) through the tube side at the flow rate of 5.83 cm3 s−1 and organic extractant through the shell side at the flow rate of 1.53 cm3s−1. Extraction studies were performed under different hydrodynamic conditions and the overall mass‐transfer coefficient was evaluated with countercurrent flow condition. It was possible to extract and concentrate Pu(IV) from aqueous phase by employing this technique. For back extracting the Pu, uranous nitrate and hydroxylamine hydrochloride solution as strippants were examined, which flowed through the tube side (flow rate: 6.11 cm3 s−1) and the loaded organic was passed through the shell side with the flow rate of 1.66 cm3s−1. Results revealed that ∼80% of Pu(IV) from oxalate supernatant waste could be extracted by utilizing this technique.