Single-cycle method for partitioning of trivalent actinides using completely incinerable reagents from nitric acid medium

Abstract

Abstract A new approach, namely “Single-cycle method for partitioning of Minor Actinides using completely incinerable ReagenTs” (SMART), has been explored for the separation of Am(III) from Eu(III) present in nitric acid medium. The extraction behavior of Am(III) and Eu(III) in a solution of an unsymmetrical diglycolamide, N,N,-didodecyl-N′,N′-dioctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (D3DODGA), and an acidic extractant, N, N-di-2-ethylhexyl diglycolamic acid (HDEHDGA), in n-dodecane was studied. The distribution ratio of both these metal ions in D3DODGA-HDEHDGA/n-dodecane initially decreased with increase in the concentration of nitric acid reached a minimum at 0.1 M nitric acid followed by increase. Synergic extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) was observed at nitric acid concentrations above 0.1 M and antagonism at lower acidities. Contrasting behavior observed at different acidities was probed by the slope analysis of the extraction data. The study revealed the involvement of both D3DODGA and HDEHDGA during synergism and increased participation of HDEHDGA during antagonism. The stripping behavior of Am(III) and Eu(III) from the loaded organic phase was studied as a function of nitric acid, DTPA, and citric acid concentrations. The conditions needed for the mutual separation of Am(III) and Eu(III) from the loaded organic phase were optimized. Our studies revealed the possibility of separating trivalent actinides from HLLW using these completely incinerable reagents.