Radiation damage to amine extractants, (1). Effect on the extraction behavior of uranium and fission products

Radiation damage to 5 v/o alkyl amine/kerosene modified with lauryl alcohol was studied through the behavior changes of uranium and some fission products in extraction, scrubbing and stripping in the nitrate system. Tested were three tertiary and four secondary amines, i.e., trioctyl amine, N-benzyl dilauryl amine, N-cyclohexyl dilauryl amine, N-cyclohexyl lauryl amine, dilauryl amine, Amberlite LA-1 and LA-2. They were irradiated to the extent of 10⁸r by ⁶⁰Co γ ray, prior to extraction. Little changes in the extraction, scrubbing and stripping behavior were observed in all amines tested, except N-cyclohexyl lauryl amine. The phase separation time after the mixing in extraction varied very little with radiation dosage. N-cyclohexyl lauryl amine formed an emulsion even without irradiation. In the radiation resistance, amines are superior to tributyl phosphate, although the separation of uranium from fission products with amines is not so perfect as with tributyl phosphate in the nitrate system. (author)