ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Robotics & Remote Systems
The Mission of the Robotics and Remote Systems Division is to promote the development and application of immersive simulation, robotics, and remote systems for hazardous environments for the purpose of reducing hazardous exposure to individuals, reducing environmental hazards and reducing the cost of performing work.
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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Latest News
Article considers incorporation of AI into nuclear power plant operations
The potential application of artificial intelligence to the operation of nuclear power plants is explored in an article published in late December in the Washington Examiner. The article, written by energy and environment reporter Callie Patteson, presents the views of a number of experts, including Yavuz Arik, a strategic energy consultant.
Yongjun Zhu, Rongzhou Jiao
Nuclear Technology | Volume 108 | Number 3 | December 1994 | Pages 361-369
Technical Paper | Enrichment and Reprocessing System | doi.org/10.13182/NT94-A35018
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Mixed trialkylphosphine oxide (TRPO) (alkyl is C6-C8) was chosen as the extractant for the removal of uranium, neptunium, plutonium, and americium from highly active waste (HAW) in China. Composition and properties of the extractant and process chemistry are based on 30 vol% TRPO-kerosene as solvent. Hexa-and tetravalent actinides are highly extractable in 30 vol% TRPO extraction from acidic HAW, and trivalent americium (curium) can be extracted effectively from HAW with a nitric acid concentration of ∼1 mol/ℓ Actinides extracted can be stripped successively by 5.5 mol/ℓ HNO3, 0.6 mol/ℓ H2C2O4, and 5% Na2CO3 into americium + rare earth, neptunium + plutonium, and uranium fractions, respectively. The loading capacity of TRPO solvent is higher than that of bifunctional organophosphorus extractants, and the radiolytic stability of TRPO is higher than that of tributyl phosphate (TBP) and bis(2-ethyl hexyl)phosphoric acid. The extraction and stripping rate of TRPO is high enough to be compatible with the centrifugal contactors. Optimized process parameters of multistage countercurrent extraction and stripping and results of experimental verification are established. In both a batch experiment with simulated nuclear power plant (NPP) spent-fuel Purex HAW and a continuous experiment with real NPP spent-fuel Purex HAW, 99.9% recovery of actinides was achieved. The modification of the solvent system with TBP to fit the conditions in the chemical pretreatment of defense HAW is considered.
