Ion exchange in the atomic energy industry with particular reference to actinide and fission product separations — a review

This paper reviews the use of Ion Exchange processes by the nuclear industry for the period October 1972 to April 1978. Topics are dealt with in terms of the elements exchanged in the order: thorium, protactinium and uranium; neptunium; plutonium; lanthanide-actinide separations; americium-curium separations; the higher actinides, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es and Fm; fission products. Aspects mentioned include the recovery of raw materials from leach liquors and sea water; fuel element reprocessing to recover and separate specific elements-including higher actinides; novel ion exchangers and future developments in the field, particularly the use of inorganic materials which can be converted into leach resistant solid products for fission product disposal. Full scale and pilot plant process descriptions are included as well as summaries of laboratory studies.