Separation of trivalent actinides from lanthanides by solvent extraction

A method is presented for separating the trivalent actinides, mainly Am and Cm, from trivalent lanthanides by the use of only two solvent extractants. The first solvent removes the heavy lanthanides, leaving the Am, Cm and the lighter lanthanides; the second removes the Am and Cm. Because additional complexing agents are not required, waste-disposal and corrosion problems are reduced. Overall separation factors may be as high as several thousand for the separation of Am and Cm from lanthanides in the fission waste products from reactor fuel processing. (author)