DEVELOPMENT OF ENGINEERING SCALE EXTRACTION CHROMATOGRAPHY SEPARATION SYSTEM: (2) SPRAY DRYING GRANULATION OF SILICA SUPPORT FOR ADSORBENT

Abstract

JAEA has been working on development of extraction chromatography technology for recovery of trivalent minor actinides (MA(III): Am, Cm) from high-level radioactive waste generated in reprocessing of spent fuel. The technology utilizes porous silica particles with about 50μm diameter for support of adsorbents. The particles are coated by styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer, and an extractant for MA recovery is impregnated into the polymer. Pressure drop of the packed column depends on characteristics of the particle (diameter, uniformity and pore size). Large pressure drop of the column is not favorable for safety assessment of the technology although a certain level of the pressure drop is indispensable for excellent separation performance. In this study, spray drying granulation experiments and fundamental characterization of the product particle were carried out to find optimal specs of the particle and conditions of the granulation operation.