A TBP/BTBP-based GANEX Separation Process. Part 1: Feasibility

A GANEX (Group ActiNide EXtraction) separation system for transmutation has been developed. In this separation process the actinides should be extracted as a group from the lanthanides and the fission and corrosion/activation products. This can be achieved by combining BTBP (bis-triazine-bipyridine) with TBP (tri-butyl phosphate) in cyclohexanone. From 4M nitric acid this organic system extracts the actinides (log(DAm) = 2.19, log(DPu) = 2.31, log(DU) = 1.03, log(DNp) = 0.53) and also separates them from the lanthanides (log(DLa) = −2.0, log(DCe) = −1.72, log(DNd) = −1.05, log(DSm) = −0.18, log(DEu) = −0.02). One problem encountered is that some of the fission and corrosion products are also extracted. The new system however still looks feasible.