Development and Trials of a Technology for Plutonium Regeneration from Nitric Acid Process Solutions Using Tangential Flow Filtration

A technology was developed for processing Pu-containing nitric acid process solutions using tangential flow filtration. The technology of Pu recovery from solid waste of complex composition consists of the following stages: dissolution in nitric acid, stabilization of Pu in +4 oxidation state, hydroxide precipitation, and separation of the precipitate by tangential flow filtration. Laboratory and on-site trials of the technology developed were carried out. The efficiency of separating the plutonium(IV) hydroxide precipitate using tangential flow filtration in the stage of suspension clarification was demonstrated in comparison with the results of the previously used centrifugation.