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Radiation Protection & Shielding
The Radiation Protection and Shielding Division is developing and promoting radiation protection and shielding aspects of nuclear science and technology — including interaction of nuclear radiation with materials and biological systems, instruments and techniques for the measurement of nuclear radiation fields, and radiation shield design and evaluation.
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
NRC issues subsequent license renewal to Monticello plant
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed for a second time the operating license for Unit 1 of Minnesota’s Monticello nuclear power plant.
Jessica A. Mitchell, R. M. Counce, J. S. Watson, B. B. Spencer, G. D. Del Cul
Nuclear Technology | Volume 165 | Number 3 | March 2009 | Pages 360-369
Technical Paper | Reprocessing | doi.org/10.13182/NT09-A4107
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This study explores different technologies for removing acetic acid from a UREX+ waste stream. The waste stream contains both nitric and acetic acids, and the acetic acid must be removed from the waste stream to prevent potential problems in the downstream steps as well as affecting the recycle of nitric acid. The acetic acid is formed after the UREX step of the process as a result of hydrolytic degradation of acetohydroxamic acid used to suppress plutonium extraction. Of the available technologies, the two most attractive approaches are solvent extraction and distillation. In industry, solvent extraction is used for more dilute concentrations of acetic acid while distillation is used for concentrated acetic acid. If a liquid-liquid extraction is viable, this would be the best option with the addition of an extractant, like tributyl phosphate or tri-n-octyl amine, if needed. However, if acetic acid removal can be delayed until the end of the UREX+ process when the nitric acid may be concentrated for recycle, distillation may remain an option, though not necessarily a better option than solvent extraction.