Elucidation of the extraction of trivalent actinides using the DOHyA-HDEHP system: an experimental and theoretical approach

A combined solvent system composed of an acidic and a neutral extractant is demonstrated as an effective system for the mutual separation of lanthanides and actinides from nitric acid solutions. The geometry and stability of various possible complexes formed under extraction and stripping conditions in a combined solvent system composed of N,N-dioctyl hydroxyacetamide (DOHyA) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) in the n-dodecane medium were studied both experimentally and theoretically. Experimental observations of the distribution ratios of Am(III) and Eu(III) in the combined solvent system revealed synergistic extraction of trivalent metal ions at all nitric acid concentrations. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to understand the geometric and electronic properties of the ligands and their corresponding complexes with Am(III) and Eu(III). The calculated results indicate that the feasibility and behaviour of complex formation in the combined solvent system using different methods are based on the energetic aspects of the formation reactions. The study also reveals the participation of the neutral and acid extractants in the combined solvent system facilitating the separation of Eu(III) and Am(III) from high-level liquid waste.

Interference of Zr(IV) during the extraction of trivalent Nd(III) from the aqueous waste generated from metallic fuel reprocessing

A metallic alloy of uranium–zirconium and uranium–plutonium–zirconium has been proposed as a fuel for fast reactors, owing to the possibility of achieving high breeding ratio in a short span of time. About 6–10 wt.% of zirconium has been added to these actinide fuels to increase the melting temperature and thermal-mechanical stability. Aqueous reprocessing of the spent metallic fuel generates the high-level liquid waste (HLLW) that contains about 60 % of the total zirconium from the fuel. In view of this, the extraction behavior of a trivalent representative ion, Nd(III) in the presence of Zr(IV) was studied from nitric acid medium using the candidate ligands proposed for trivalent actinide separation from HLLW, such as N,N,N′N′-tetraoctyldiglycolamide (TODGA), and N,N-di-octyl-2-hydroxyacetamide (DOHyA). The extraction was studied as a function of nitric acid concentration, zirconium and neodymium concentration and Nd(III) to Zr(IV) ratio. The findings of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ATR-FTIR spectral techniques were used for understanding the complex chemistry of Zr(IV) extraction under different conditions. Poor extraction of nitric acid, smaller aggregate size, no third phase formation during the extraction of Zr(IV) and Nd(III) and other unique solvent properties favor the DOHyA molecule in n-dodecane as a solvent for partitioning of trivalent actinides from HLLW generated from metallic fuel reprocessing.

Minimizing the aggregation of diglycolamide reverse micelles in the n-dodecane phase with bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid “reactive” phase modifier

“Reactive“ phase modifiers enhance the extraction of trivalent metal ions through synergism and prevent third phase formation.

Effect of pKa on the extraction behavior of Am(III) in organo phosphorus acid and diglycolamide solvent system

A combination of neutral and acidic extractant has been proposed for the single-cycle separation of trivalent actinides from high-level liquid waste (HLLW). The nature of acidic extractant in the combined solvent formulation plays a profound role in deciding the extraction and stripping of trivalent actinides. Therefore, the extraction behavior of Am(III) in a solution of tetra-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-diglycolamide (TEHDGA) and acidic extractant (HA) was studied from nitric acid medium. The acidic extractants chosen were bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphonic acid (PC88A) and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (CYANEX-272) whose pKa values were 3.24, 4.51 and 6.37, respectively. The distribution ratio of Am(III) was measured as a function of various parameters such as concentration of nitric acid, TEHDGA, HA etc. The data were compared with those obtained in individual solvent systems namely 0.1 M TEHDGA/n-DD and HA/n-DD. Slope analysis of the extraction data indicated the synergic participation of both TEHDGA and HDEHP in the extraction of Am(III) at all acidities. However, antagonistic effect was observed at lower acidity when TEHDGA was mixed to PC88A or CYANEX-272 present in n-DD. Accordingly, a suitable mechanism has been proposed for the extraction of Am(III) at all acidities using these combined solvent formulation. Studies with fast reactor simulated high level liquid waste indicated that extraction of Am(III) was accompanied by co-extraction of lanthanides and unwanted metal ions such as Zr(IV), Mo(VI), Y(III) and Pd(II). However, addition of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N,N′-tetraaceticacid (CyDTA) reduced the extraction of unwanted metal ions. Batch extraction and stripping studies indicated the possibility of using 0.1 M TEHDGA+0.25 M HDEHP in n-dodecane for the single cycle separation of Am(III) from FR-SHLLW.