The liquid-liquid extraction of certain tripositive transplutonium ions from salted nitrate solutions with a tertiary and quaternary amine

Abstract

The distribution coefficients of Am(III), Cm(III) and Cf(III) were measured from Li, Mg, Ca, Al and Fe(III) nitrate solutions using a high molecular weight tertiary and quaternary amine. The distribution coefficient of Am(III) was measured for the tertiary and quaternary amine systems as a function of the diluent, aqueous acid concentration, extractant concentration and aqueous nitrate concentration. Separation factors for Cm(III)/Am(III), Cf(III)/Am(III), Es(III)/Cf(III) and Eu(III)/Am(III) were determined for the two amine systems. The quaternary amine was shown to be a superior extractant for the transplutonium (III) ions compared to the tertiary amine.