THOREX PILOT PLANT RUN AWD-1 SUMMARY

The processing of short-decayed thorium metal results in the collection of first cycle extraction column raffinate which contains 20 to 30% of the original mass/sup 233/ as Pa/sup 233/. Ultimate recovery of the U requires storage of the raffinate for decay of Pa/sup 233/. During the Thorex Pilot Plant short-decay scouting run HD-19, an estimated 27 g of Pa/sup 233/ was collected and stored as extraction column raffinate. The data resulting from the processing (run AWD-1) of the first cycle raffinate from run HD-19 are summarized. A period of 346 dnys elapsed between the completion of run HD-19 and run AWD-1. A one-cycle solvent-extraction flowsheet was used to separate U/sup 233/ from fission products and other contaminants contained in the raffinate. The U/sup 233/ was extracted into 6% tributyl phosphate in Amsco 125-82 and subsequently stripped into dilute HNO/sub 3/. Feed for rum AWD-1 was prepared by concentrating amd adjusting the 1A-column raffinate from run HD-19 to feed specifications. (auth)