Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology

This study was performed to evaluate the co- and mutual separation for Am, Cm and RE elements from the simulated multi-component solution equivalent to real HLW level by a Zr-DEHPA(di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid containing Zirconium)/NDD(n-dodecane)-HNO3 extraction system. Zr-DEHPA was self-synthesized and the optimal condition of (15g/L Zr-1M DEHPA)/NDD-1M HNO3 was selected taking into consideration of prevention of the third phase, and effects of concentration of DEHPA, nitric acid and impregnant amount of Zr on the co-extraction of Am, Cm and RE. In that condition, the extraction yields were 81% (Am), 85% (Cm), more than 80% (RE elements), 98% (Mo), 85% (Fe), 98% (U), 73% (Np), and less than 5% (other elements) so that the system developed for the co-extraction of Am-Cm/RE was proved to be available. For that, however, U, Np, Mo and Fe was elucidated to have to be removed in advance, and Zr inducing the third phase formation was found to be practically excluded. The co-extracted Am-Cm/RE were sequentially separated in an order of Am-Cm (stripping agent : 0.05 M DTPA-1M Lactic acid of pH 3.6) → RE (stripping agent : 5M HNO3), and then their separation factors were evaluated. At above conditions, Am of 65.4%, Cm of 63.9%, RE (except for Y) of more than 85% were stripped.

Keywords

Am,Cm,Rare Earth elements,Zr-DEHPA,Co-extraction,Mutual separation