Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2003, Volume 6, Issue 11+12

New Improved Counter-Current Multi-Stage Centrifugal Extractor for Solvent Extraction Proces

Abstract

Total actinide recovery, lanthanide/actinide separation and the selective partitioning of actinide from high level waste (HLW) are nowadays of a major interest. Actinide partitioning with a view to safe disposing of HLW or utilization in many other applications of recovered elements involves an extraction process usually by means mixer-settler, pulse column or centrifugal contactor. This last, presents some doubtless advantages and responds to the above mentioned goals. A new type of counter-current multistage centrifugal extractor has been designed and performed. Similar apparatus still not found from other published paper yet. The counter-current multi-stage centrifugal extractor was a cylinder made of stainless steel with an effective length of 346 mm, the effective diameter of 100 mm and a volume of 1.5 liters, having horizontal position as working position. The new internal structure and geometry of the new advanced centrifugal extractor (Fig.1) consists in nine cells (units): five rotation units(R), two mixing units (M), two propelling units (P) and two final plates (S) assures the counter-current running of the two phases. The central shaft (CS) having the rotation cells fixed on it is connected by an intermediary connection to an electric motor of high rotation speed.
The new designed extractor has been tested at 500-2800 rot/min for a ratio of the aqueous/organic phase =1. The results showed that the performances have been generally good and the design demand was reached. New designed counter-current multistage centrifugal extractor may be a promising idea to increase extraction rate of radionuclides and metals from liquid effluents.