Quaternary ammonium salts used for final plutonium purification

Presented are the investigation results of choosing diluents for quaternary ammonium compounds used as extragents of nitric acid, uranium, plutonium and zirconium extraction and the effect of extraction system irradiation on plutonium, zirconium and uranium extraction. As as extraction agent trilauril methylammonium nitrate (TLMAN) was investigated. From the tested diluents and their combinations n-dodecane modified by higher alcohol and tetrachloromethane as well were chosen for the usage in extraction systems with TLMAN. The solubility of quaternary ammonium salts and their metal complexes in comparison with tertiary amines is low especially in aliphatic diluents. A high degree of separation is obtained while extracting uranium, plutonium and zirconium in the system of modified dodecane. Irradiation effect on extraction system behaviour in CCl4 is discussed. U(6) extraction during irradiation remains unchangeable. The Pu(4) extraction at first increases and then decreases at higher radiation doses. 95Zr distribution coefficient increase for an order is observed even at low radiation doses. Radiation effect on systems with modified dodecane is most significant