Abstract
Indigenously synthesized extractant, phenyl (octyl) phosphonic acid (POPA) in tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) and dodecane, has been investigated for the separation of americium from trivalent lanthanides in nitric acid medium as well as diethylene triaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and lactic acid mixture (TALSPEAK medium). Various experimental parameters like concentration of DTPA, lactic acid, TBP, nitrate ions and pH of the aqueous feed solution have been optimized to obtain the highest separation factor between americium and europium. Bulk actinide–lanthanide separation reagent, tetra (ethylhexyl) diglycolamide (TEHDGA), was equilibrated with simulated solution of americium and lanthanides, equivalent in concentration to the reprocessing waste originating from PHWR spent fuel. DTPA/lactic acid mixture was used to strip the metal ions from the loaded organic phase and re-extracted into POPA in TBP/dodecane to evaluate the separation factor of individual lanthanides with respect to americium. Very good separation factors between americium and trivalent lanthanides were obtained.
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