Influence of energy of helium ions on degradation of diglycolamide in -dodecane

Sugo, Yumi; Taguchi, Mitsumasa; Sasaki, Yuji  ; Morita, Yasuji  

A tridentate extractant, -tetraalkyldiglycolamide has high extractability for actinides such as americium and curium from nitric acid into -dodecane. -Radiolysis study of the organic extractants using an actinide radionuclide has some experimental difficulties. For example, a long-term exposure to actinides is required, and the extractants are contaminated with the radionuclide. These issues were solved by irradiation with helium ions provided by an accelerator. It was also found that the radiation chemical yield for the degradation of diglycolamide in -dodecane by helium ions corresponding to the -particles was less than that by -rays. In order to prove an effect of linear energy transfer (LET) on the radiolysis of diglycolamide in -dodecane, the influence of energy of helium ions was further investigated. The radiation chemical yield gradually increased with the incident energy of helium ions. This result indicates that the degradation efficiency decreases with increasing LET value. Because the transient species are densely produced in the track by high LET radiations, and then decreased by recombination in the track at very early time.