摘要
The Savannah River Site’s (SRS) H-Canyon facility uses ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) to separate impure neptunium (Np) from a nitric acid feed stream containing 0.58211;1.0 M concentrations of iron, sodium and sulfate impurities. The material is processed using a two-pass solvent extraction purification which relies on CAN to oxidize Np to Np(VI) during the first pass prior to extraction. Spectrophotometric oxidation-state analyses normally used to validate successful oxidation to Np(VI) prior to extraction were compromised by this feed stream matrix. Therefore, a rapid chromatographic method to validate successful Np oxidation was developed using Eichrom Industries’ TRU and TEVA庐 resins. The method was validated and subsequently transferred to existing operations in the process analytical laboratories.