Chemical speciation of strontium, americium, and curium in high level waste: Predictive modeling of phase partitioning during tank processing. 1998 annual progress report

'In this research program, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Florida State University (FSU) are investigating the speciation of Sr and Am/Cm in the presence of selected organic chelating agents (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and iminodiacetic acid (IDA)) over ranges of hydroxide, carbonate, ionic strength, and competing metal ion concentrations present in high level waste tanks. The fundamental understanding of chemical speciation reactions gained from these studies is also used to propose methodologies for removal of Sr and Am/Cm from organic chelates present in high level tank waste, via competition, displacement or other reactions, without the need for the development of costly and potentially hazardous organic destruction technologies.'