Effects of Diluents on the Separation of Minor Actinides from Lanthanides with Tetradodecyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-diamide from Nitric Acid Medium

Abstract

To investigate the effective separation of actinides (Ans) from lanthanides (Lns), single-stage batch extraction experiments were performed with a novel extractant, tetradodecyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-diamide (TDdPTDA) with various diluents such as 3-nitrobenzotrifluoride (F-3), nitrobenzene, and n-dodecane for Am, Cm, and Lns. The extraction kinetics with TDdPTDA was rapid enough to perform continuous extraction experiments using mixer-settler extractors. The slopes of the distribution ratio versus the TDdPTDA concentration and the distribution ratio versus the nitric acid concentration were similar for F-3 and nitrobenzene systems, but different from the n-dodecane system. These differences were attributed to the characteristics of the diluents. This study revealed high distribution ratios of Am (D_Am) and Cm (D_Cm) for TDdPTDA, with the high separation factors (SFs) of Am from Lns enough for their separation.