2, 2'-bipyridine as a masking agent of ruthenium in the PUREX process. Issue 10 (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thevenet, Alexiane; Marie, Cecile; Tamain, Christelle; Guilbaud, Philippe
• Is Part Of: Separation science and technology. Volume 56:Issue 10(2021)
• Page Start: 1649
• Page End: 1658
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: Ruthenium -- 2 -- 2-bipyridine -- uranium -- PUREX -- coordination chemistry -- extraction; Separation (Technology) -- Periodicals; 660.284205
• DOI: 10.1080/01496395.2020.1789879
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-6395

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The extraction of ruthenium by tri- n -butyl phosphate (TBP) is an issue for the PUREX process. The addition of 50 mM of 2, 2ʹ-bipyridine (BIPY) reveals that ruthenium can be maintained in 3 M HNO3 aqueous solution after heating at 90°C for 4 hours. The Ru-BIPY complex was characterized using UV-Visible and Raman spectroscopies, and single crystal X-Ray diffraction. These technics are in agreement with a 1:2 complex formation in HNO3 medium. The selectivity toward uranium was studied by solvent extraction experiments: the BIPY ligand is still able to maintain ruthenium in the aqueous phase whereas uranium is still extracted.