Determination of Di-n-Butyl Phosphate in Organic Streams of FBTR Mixed Carbide Fuel Reprocessing Solution by Gas Chromatographic Technique

Abstract

Described is the amt. of di-Bu phosphate (DBP) produced when PUREX solvent (30% tri-Bu phosphate (TBP) mixed with 70% hydrocarbon diluent) is exposed to intensive radiolytic and chem. attack during the sepn. of uranium and plutonium from fission products of FBTR mixed carbide fuel reprocessing soln. DBP is the major degrdn. product of tri-Bu phosphate (TBP). Amt. of DBP formed in the lean org. streams of different fuel burn-up FBTR carbide fuel reprocessing solns. were analyzed by gas chromatog. technique. The method is based on the prepn. of diazo methane and conversion of non-volatile di-Bu phosphate in to volatile and stable derivs. by the action of diazomethane and then detd. by GC. A calibration graph was made for DBP over a concn. in the range from 200 to 1800 ppm with correlation coeff. of 0.99587 and RSD 1.2%. The degraded 30% TBP-NPH solvent loaded with heavy metal ions like uranium was analyzed after repeated use and results are compared with std. ion chromatog. technique. A column comparison study to select of proper gas chromatog. column for the sepn. of DBP from other components in a single aliquot of injection was also examd. [on SciFinder(R)]