Recovery of actinides and lanthanides from high-level liquid waste by extraction chromatography using TODGA+TBP impregnated resins

Abstract

A 30% (w/w) N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyldiglycol amide (TODGA) and 10% (w/w) tributyl-phosphate (TBP)-containing resin was prepared and the batch uptake of several actinides [U(VI), Th(IV), Am(III), Cm(III), Cf(III)] and selected fission products from nitric acid solutions was investigated. Two chromatographic column tests were carried out with a synthetic PUREX raffinate containing nominal amounts of fission products and trace amounts of Am(III), Cm(III) and Cf(III). The results of the separation experiments revealed that actinides and lanthanides could be separated from the bulk of other fission products by extraction chromatography using TODGA and TBP as the stationary phases.