Use of heteropolycompounds for solvent extraction of tetravalent americium

Extraction of tetravalent americium from solutions of mineral acids, containing K10P2W17O61 (KPW) potassium tungstophosphate as a complex former, is studied. It is found that Am(4) is extracted by diocylamine solutions in dichloroethane from rather concentrated solutions of H2SO4 and HNO3. The coefficient of Am(4) distribution (CD) grows with the amine concentration increase, 1-3% animal solutions in dichloroethane extract Am(4) by 95-96%. The CD values increase with the growth of H-alkyl radical in an extracting agent molecule. The composition of the extracted complex corresponds to the following relation: Am(4):KPW:H2SO4:amine = 1:2:4:2. As a result of the study, a quich and simple method of extraction separation of americium from thorium and other elements is proposed. 4 refs.; 5 figs.; 1 tab