Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
240128 Procedia Chemistry 2012 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

Fast reactor spent fuel reprocessing plants should be designed for inherent criticality safety due to high plutonium content. Addition of soluble neutron poison is one way to do that. Gadolinium is the best choice based on neutron absorption cross section and chemical compatibility. In this work, using classical thermodynamic approach, the distribution coefficient of gadolinium in tributyl phosphate has been calculated and compared with the experimental data. The influence of acidity and uranium at equilibrium on gadolinium distribution in tributyl phosphate has been investigated. The result establishes the feasibility of employing gadolinium as soluble neutron poison in fast fuel reprocessing.

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Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Chemical Engineering (General)