Plutonium partition, electropulse column

The development of in situ electrolytic methods by Allied Chemical resulted in a novel unit, the electropulse column, in which mass transfer and electrolytic reduction are carried out simultaneously (25). The basic feature of the electropulse column, (Fig. 3), is the dual function of the horizontal perforated plates, acting as cathodes as well as pulse plates, and the introduction of vertical anode screens contained in porous ceramic sleeves. This design was found particularly suitable for Pu-U partitioning, since it permits operation with an aqueous-continuous phase, which is needed to maintain adequate electrical conductivity, while the organic to aqueous flow ratio is kept quite large to obtain a high plutonium concentration in the exiting aqueous stream. 

Cermak, A. F., and Spaunburgh, R. G., "Development of the Electropulse Column for Uranium-Plutonium Partitioning in the AGNS Reprocessing Plant," Paper presented at this Conf. (INDE 162). 

Development of the Electropulse Column for Uranium-Plutonium Partition in the AGNS Reprocessing Plant... 

In 1968, an electrolytic reduction process was proposed by A. Schneider and A. L. Ayers (6) to circumvent the above disadvantages. A research program was carried out in the Allied Chemical Corporation s laboratories during the years 1968 to 1972 to develop the process and equipment. The work resulted in the development of the Electropulse Column ( 7) for the continuous (differential) electrolytic uranium-plutonium partition process, which was later scaled up, fabricated, and installed in the Allied-General Nuclear Services reprocessing plant at Barnwell, South Carolina. About the same time, a stagewise electrolytic uranium-plutonium partition process was tested on a mini mixer-settler unit in Germany. (8)... 

The 2.54-cm diameter Electropulse Column shown in Figure 1, after completion of uranium runs, was installed at Battelle Memorial Institute (Columbus, Ohio) for uranium-plutonium partition tests. Six electrolytic runs were made under conditions corresponding to partitioning in the first process cycle to determine the effect of uranium reduction efficiency R(u) on t le separation process. The organic feed contained 80 to 83 grams/L of uranium and 0.71 to 0.82 grams/L of plutonium. The nitric acid concentration in the aqueous feed was 2.5 to 2.8 M and in the organic feed 0.2 to 0.3 M. 

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