Radiolytic stability of N,N-didodecyl-N’,N’-diethylhexyl diglycolamide

Abstract

The radiolytic degradation of N,N-di-dodecyl-N′,N′-di-2-ethylhexyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (D3DEHDGA) was studied at various absorbed doses of γ-radiation. The degradation was assessed by measuring the variation in the extraction behavior of Am(III) in irradiated solvent systems composed of neat D3DEHDGA or 0.1 M D3DEHDGA/n-dodecane in the presence and absence of nitric acid. The distribution ratio of americium (DAm(III)) decreased with increase of absorbed dose. The presence of n-dodecane and nitric acid enhanced the radiolytic degradation of the solvent. The third phase formation behavior of Nd(III) decreased with increase of absorbed dose and the third phase was not observed at absorbed doses above 100 kGy. The recovery of Am(III) from the irradiated system was near quantitative in five contacts. The study revealed that the extraction and stripping behavior of the irradiated solvent was quite satisfactory for partitioning of minor actinides from real wastes.