Removal of fission products from mixed solvents using zeolites .2. Caesium and strontium removal

The solvents tributylphosphate (TBP) and odourless kerosene (OK) are widely used to extract plutonium(IV) and uranium(V) in nuclear processing plants. Their use depends upon their relatively low affinity for fission products, but small amounts of radioisotopes are taken up by them. To aid disposal/reuse of these solvents it is of use to study ways of removing radioisotopes of Ca and Sr from them. This paper describes simple distribution coefficient (K-d) measurements to test the ability of aluminosilicate zeolites to remove Cs-137 and Sr-90/Y-90 from TBP, OK and their mixtures.