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Division Spotlight
Young Members Group
The Young Members Group works to encourage and enable all young professional members to be actively involved in the efforts and endeavors of the Society at all levels (Professional Divisions, ANS Governance, Local Sections, etc.) as they transition from the role of a student to the role of a professional. It sponsors non-technical workshops and meetings that provide professional development and networking opportunities for young professionals, collaborates with other Divisions and Groups in developing technical and non-technical content for topical and national meetings, encourages its members to participate in the activities of the Groups and Divisions that are closely related to their professional interests as well as in their local sections, introduces young members to the rules and governance structure of the Society, and nominates young professionals for awards and leadership opportunities available to members.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Reboot: Nuclear needs a success . . . anywhere
The media have gleefully resurrected the language of a past nuclear renaissance. Beyond the hype and PR, many people in the nuclear community are taking a more measured view of conditions that could lead to new construction: data center demand, the proliferation of new reactor designs and start-ups, and the sudden ascendance of nuclear energy as the power source everyone wants—or wants to talk about.
Once built, large nuclear reactors can provide clean power for at least 80 years—outlasting 10 to 20 presidential administrations. Smaller reactors can provide heat and power outputs tailored to an end user’s needs. With all the new attention, are we any closer to getting past persistent supply chain and workforce issues and building these new plants? And what will the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president mean for nuclear?
As usual, there are more questions than answers, and most come down to money. Several developers are engaging with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or have already applied for a license, certification, or permit. But designs without paying customers won’t get built. So where are the customers, and what will it take for them to commit?
B.-G. Brodda, D. Heinen
Nuclear Technology | Volume 34 | Number 3 | August 1977 | Pages 428-437
Technical Paper | Chemical Processing | doi.org/10.13182/NT77-A31808
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Radiolysis and hydrolysis of tributylphosphate (TBP) in n-paraffin diluent were investigated under conditions simulating several parameters of the THOREX flowsheet for reprocessing thorium containing spent nuclear fuel. The solvent (30 vol% TBP-n-paraffin) was equilibrated with 0.25 to 3 molar nitric acid, and the organic phase was inspected by gas chromatography. As an acid hydrolysis product, only di-n-butylphosphoric acid (HDBP) was detected in the organic phase. Mono-n-butylphosphoric acid (H2MBP), if formed, would have been extracted into the aqueous phase and, thus, escape detection. The HDBP content of the organic phase changes linearly with its acid content and keeps constant after phase separation. Either hydrolysis does not proceed in the organic phase or it is compensated for by amelioration effects. Radiolysis in pure solvents (30 and 5 vol% TBP-n-paraffin) with doses from 0.5 to 13 Wh·ℓ−1 produces HDBP with G values (TBP-based) of ∼2 and ∼6, slightly decreasing with higher doses. No H2MBP was found. Regarding the analytical detection limit, this corresponds to <2.5% H2MBP formation, relative to HDBP. Radiolysis in solvent (30 vol% TBP-n-paraffin), equilibrated with 0.25 to 3 molar nitric acid at a constant dose of 7 Wh·ℓ−1, leads to a considerably reduced radiolytic fraction of the total HDBP yield with a minimum of ∼0.3 molar nitric acid in the organic phase (2 molar in the aqueous phase). At ∼0.17 molar nitric acid in the organic phase (corresponding to THOREX conditions), radiolytic and hydrolytic fractions are equal. With higher acidities, the hydrolytic fraction preponderates and vice versa. The G values of the radiolytic fraction vary between 0.8 and 1.1. Again, the H2MBP formation was not detected at the same sensitivity level. Irradiating the solvent (30 vol% TBP-n-paraffin), equilibrated with 0.75 molar nitric acid (0.12 molar in the organic phase) with doses from 0.5 to 13 Wh·ℓ−1, leads to a mixture of hydrolytically and radiolytically formed HDBP, the hydrolytic fraction of which raises the total HDBP yield over the radiolytic HDBP yield from acid-free solvents up to doses of ∼3 Wh·ℓ−1. With higher doses, the total yield is kept below the value for the acid-free solvent due to the nitric acid effect. The G values of the radiolytic fraction vary between 0.7 and 1.2. Again, the H2MBP formation could not be detected. It is proposed to denominate TBP degradation product yields according to their origin, hydrolysis or radiolysis (G value), or just by a concentration value in case of mixed origin, valid for the experimental conditions.
