Radiolysis and extraction properties of branched N,N-dialkylamides in -dodecane for U(VI) separation

Ban, Yasutoshi  ; Burdet, F.*; Cames, B.*; Caniffi, B.*; Hill, C.*; Morita, Yasuji  

N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)butanamide, N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)isobutanamide, and N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)dimethylpropanamide diluted to ca. 2 mol/dm(M) in dodecane pre-equilibrated with 5 M HNO were degraded by -ray up to the integrated dose of ca. 1040 kGy. Identification of degradation products, and extraction of simulated fission products (Sr, Ba, Zr, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, and Nd) and U(VI) by the three degraded monoamides were respectively carried out. The three monoamides were practically stable against -ray irradiation, and these monoamides and their degraded products hardly have detrimental effects on the extraction separation of U(VI). Although the distribution ratios toward Pd increased with increasing integrated dose, they were less than unity up to the integrated dose of ca. 300 kGy. The three irradiated monoamides conserve their loading capacities of ca. 0.5 M as single stage extraction of U(VI), and the loading capacities decrease little with increasing integrated dose.