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

P. Velavendan, S. Ganesh, N.K. Pandey, U. Kamachi Mudali, R. Natarajan
2011 Journal of Analytical Sciences Methods and Instrumentation  
The present work describes the amount of Di-n-butyl phosphate (DBP) produced when PUREX solvent (30% tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) mixed with 70% hydrocarbon diluent) is exposed to intensive radiolytic and chemical attack during the separation of uranium and plutonium from fission products of FBTR mixed carbide fuel reprocessing solution. DBP is the major degradation product of Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP). Amount of DBP formed in the lean organic streams of different fuel burn-up FBTR carbide
more » ... reprocessing solutions were analyzed by Gas Chromatographic technique. The method is based on the preparation of diazo methane and conversion of non-volatile Di-n-butyl phosphate in to volatile and stable derivatives by the action of diazomethane and then determined by Gas Chromatography (GC). A calibration graph was made for DBP over a concentration in the range from 200 to 1800 ppm with correlation coefficient 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 standard ion chromatographic technique. A column comparison study to select of proper gas chromatographic column for the separation of DBP from other components in a single aliquot of injection is also examined.
doi:10.4236/jasmi.2011.12005 fatcat:pahgwftnybb5jduonz4lgf2v7e