The behaviour of plutonium in aqueous basic media

Abstract

Behaviour of Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) in basic media has been investigated by studying their stabilities and quantitative determination by spectrophotometry. Beer's law was found to be obeyed in the range of 1·10⁻³ to 5·10⁻³ M Pu(IV) at 485 nm peak with a molar absorption coefficient of 95M⁻¹· cm⁻¹ in sodium carbonate medium. In case of Pu(VI), in the same medium Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 2·10⁻³ to 1·10⁻²M at 550 nm with a molar absorption coefficient of 50M⁻¹·cm⁻¹. Distribution ratios of Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) for their sorption on Al₂O₃ and Amberlyst A-26 (MP) resin from bicarbonate and carbonate media have been determined. High distribution ratios obtained indicate the feasibility of decreasing the plutonium content of basic carbonate streams in reprocessing. 10% breakthrough capacities for Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) with these exchangers during column operations have also been determined.