Influence of the purity and irradiation stability of Cyanex 301 on the separation of trivalent actinides from lanthanides by solvent extraction

Abstract

The solvent extraction of trivalent actinides and lanthanides from aqueous IM NaNO3 by the sulfur containing acidic extractant Cyanex 301 was studied. This commercial extractant shows very interesting features for An(III)/Ln(III) separations depending on the purification of its main constituent bis(2,2,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid. Efficient separations were observed with nonpurified Cyanex 301 for high Ln(III) concentrations, but not for low Ln(III) concentrations. Successful purification of Cyanex 301 was performed by precipitation of the ammonium dithiophosphinate. Very high An(III)/Ln(III) separation factors (higher than 103) were obtained for micro or macro concentrations of Ln(III) at pH 3–4.