Neptunium (V) Oxidation by Nitrous Acid in Nitric Acid

To support the development of an Advanced PUREX process that fully recovers neptunium with uranium and plutonium for recycle, an enhanced understanding of neptunium behaviour in nitric acid and tributyl phosphate phases is essential. The most important reaction affecting neptunium extraction in the PUREX process is the oxidation of Np(V) by nitric acid. This paper reports new data on Np(V) oxidation in nitric acid under conditions relevant to the development of a flowsheet for the primary extraction/scrub contactor in an Advanced PUREX process.