Separation of Am(III) from Eu(III) present in 3 M nitric acid medium using completely incinerable binary extractants

Abstract

The extraction behavior of Am(III) and Eu(III) from nitric acid medium (0.001 M to 3 M) was studied in a binary solution of N,N-dioctylhydroxy acetamide (DOHyA) and bis(2-ethyhexyl)diglycolamic acid (HDEHDGA) in n-dodecane to evaluate the feasibility of separating Am(III) from Eu(III) present in 3–4 M nitric acid medium. The extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) was studied as a function of various parameters. The results were compared with the individual extractants in n-dodecane. Synergic extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) was observed at nitric acid concentrations above 0.5 M and antagonism at lower nitric acid region. The dependence of distribution ratio of Am(III) and Eu(III) on binary extractants was probed by the slope analysis of the extraction data, and the mechanism of Am(III) and Eu(III) extraction was determined at various acidities. The results revealed the possibility of single-cycle separation of Am(III) from Eu(III) with a separation factor ~13.