The application of HDEHP-levextrel for the preparation of 242Cm

The distribution coefficients of Pu(IV), Am(III), Eu(III) as well as the other fission products between HDEHP-levextrel and nitric acid solution are measured as a function of the acidity, the temperature and the concentration of NaNO3, LiNO3, Al(NO3)3 and aminopolycarboxylic acids. A new process for the separation of 242Cm from the irradiated 241Am target (mixed powder of 241AmO2 and Al) is proposed. In this process the transplutonium elements (TPE) and the rare earth elements (REE) are extracted by HDEHP-levextrel from the adjusted dissolver solution containing Al(NO3)3, LiNO3, and DTPA etc., and the plutonium remains in the raffinate. Then the TPE are separated from the REE by HDEHP-levextrel chromatography. The recovery of 241Am(242Cm) exceeds 99.4%, the separation factor of Am(Cm) from Pu is above 4.3 x 103 and the recovery of Pu reaches 99.4%. The decontamination factors of Am(Cm) for Cs, Sr, Eu, Zr-Nb and Ru are greater than 9.2 x 108, 3.1 x 108, 2.3 x 104, 3.7 x 103 and 2.3 x 106 respectively