Accomplishing Equilibrium in ALSEP: Demonstrations of Modified Process Chemistry on 3-D Printed Enhanced Annular Centrifugal Contactors

The major components of the modified ALSEP process have been demonstrated on a modified 2-cm annular centrifugal contactor with an enhanced mixing zone using stable fission products and radiotracers. The results show that by decreasing the pH of the minor actinide stripping solution, using HEDTA instead of DTPA, and increasing contact time, the process is very effective in separating americium from the lanthanides and the fission products.