Evaluation of neutral extractants in single-cycle process for minor actinide partitioning

Extraction behavior of Am(III) and Eu(III) in a solution of tetra-bis(2-ethylhexyl)diglycolamide (TEHDGA),or tetra-otcyldiglycolamide (TODGA), or N-octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethyl phosphine oxide (CMPO), or N,N'-DiMethyl-N,N'-DiOctyl-2-HexylEthoxyMalonAmide (DMDOHEMA) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) in n-dodecane (n-DD) was studied as a function of concentration of nitric acid. stripping behavior of Am(III) and Eu(III) from extracted organic phase was investigated using citric acid (CA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). A suitable aqueous formulation was developed to separate Am(III) from chemically similar Eu(III) present in loaded organic phase, to facilitate a single-cycle separation of trivalent actinides from high-level liquid waste (HLLW). (author)