Masters Theses

Abstract

"Liquid-liquid extraction has played a major role in the processing of nuclear fuels. The Department of Chemical Engineering of the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy realizing this, petitioned the Atomic Energy Commission for funds to design and construct an instructional facility representing the chemical processing of nuclear fuels. With this unit and its solvent recovery equipment, in which stress is placed on extraction and distillation, not only are the principles of nuclear fuels processing demonstrated, but the more basic concepts of mass and energy transfer are also illustrated. Extraction depends upon solubility differences to achieve a transfer of a solute between two liquids which are totally or partially immiscible in each other. Distillation depends upon the difference in vapor pressure of two or more liquids for separation.

Two types of extraction columns were specified for this unit. First was the rotating disc contactor, a column gaining wide acceptance in the petroleum industry. The other was the pulsed, sieve-plate, extraction column which is used extensively in the processing of uranium ores. Complete instrumentation was specified so that students could become familiar with their use, have control of the entire unit, as well as have a complete and continuous record of the major variables. The columns themselves are constructed of glass for visual inspection.

The purpose of this investigation was to redesign and construct the rotating disc contactor which together with the pulse extraction column make up the extraction unit. This unit is an instructional facility representing the chemical processing of nuclear fuels. Basic calibrations were made on the unit and detailed operating procedures prepared for both columns"--Introduction, pages 1-2.

Advisor(s)

Thompson, Dudley, 1913-1996

Committee Member(s)

Webb, William H.
Eppelsheimer, Daniel S., 1909-1988
Planje, Theodore J., 1919-1980

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Chemical Engineering

Publisher

Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy

Publication Date

1960

Pagination

xi, 195 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 190-191).

Rights

© 1960 Richard Henry Okenfuss, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Extraction (Chemistry) -- Equipment and supplies -- Design and construction

Thesis Number

T 1257

Print OCLC #

5928784

Electronic OCLC #

956784261

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