An Infrared Study of Zirconium Retention in 30% Tributyl Phosphate

Abstract

Zirconium /Infrared spectra/TBP/Fuel reprocessing /Degradation SummaryThe retention of zirconium in 30% TBP/nDD as a function of the age of zirconium organic solutions was studied by observing spectra in the infrared region of 3700 cm" 1 to 220 cm" 1 . Fourier Transform infrared spectra of the system zirconium/nitric acid/ tributyl phosphate /n-dodecane and its components are presented along with assignment of the functional groups. During four months of aging, no new absorption bands developed in the spectra of zirconium tributyl phosphate/n-dodecane solutions. Zirconium that precipitated from aged organic solutions exhibited an infrared spectrum that was almost identical with the spectrum of zirconium nitrate dibutyl phosphate.

Zirconium Retention in 30% Tributyl Phosphate/n-Dodecane

“…There have also been many suggestions and some published evidence [12] that the initially formed complexes of zirconium with TBP and DBP undergo transformation on aging of the organic solution to larger polymeric complexes. An infrared study related to this work [11 ] has shown that over the same period of aging, no significant changes in the infrared spectrum of the zirconium nitrate organic solution were evident. This observation would seem to support the current belief that HDBP and H 2 MBP are the main products of the degradation process, but would not exclude the possibility of formation of polymers through a symmetrical bond such as the O-Zr-O (infrared inactive).…”

“…The present study may indicate that zirconium has an appreciable synergistic effect on the formation of DBP and MBP, especially since zirconium di-or mono-butyl phosphate, as identified by infrared technique [11], precipitated from the zirconium organic solution during aging. There have also been many suggestions and some published evidence [12] that the initially formed complexes of zirconium with TBP and DBP undergo transformation on aging of the organic solution to larger polymeric complexes.…”

Extraction of nitric acid, uranyl nitrate, and bismuth nitrate from aqueous nitric acid solutions with CMPO

“…If the equilibria in multicomponent systems are unfavorable, other methods may be used to enhance selectivity. For example, studies of the extraction of zirconium from nitric acid solutions with TBP by Siczek and Meisenhelder (1980), Meisenhelder and Siczek (1980), Mailen et al (1980), andDeMuth (1989) indicate that even though the distribution coefficient can be large, slow kinetics pennit selection of process conditions to reduce its extraction. Bismuth, which is a large constituent in the HEDL waste, is reported by Yukhin (1988) to be mildly extracted by TBP.…”

Characterization of zirconium complexes of interest in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

“…However, some uncertainties remain about the composition and structures of the dissolved metal species extracted with different ligand amounts. Techniques already used for such purposes are NMR spectroscopy,8 vibrational spectroscopy9,, 10 and EXAFS,11 but the extracted metal complex structures are still controversial. In order to obtain more information, the use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) can be considered as a complementary tool for identifying the extracted metal complexes.…”