A Study on two-phase separation in ,-dialkylamides-nitric acid systems by turbidity measurement

Tsutsui, Nao  ; Hakamatsuka, Yasuyuki; Ban, Yasutoshi  

,-dialkylamides (monoamides) have been proposed as alternative extractants to tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) in the development of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. Up to now, however, quantitative estimation of two-phase separation between nitric acid and monoamides has not been carried out. The property of two-phase separation between monoamides (,-di(2-ethylhexyl)-butanamide (DEHBA) and ,-di(2-ethylhexyl)-2,2-dimethylpropanamide (DEHDMPA)) and TBP diluted by dodecane and nitric acid were studied using by a turbidity analyzer. In the case of TBP, two-phase separation proceeded rapidly regardless of the nitric acid concentration. The time require for two-phase separation decreased with increasing the nitric acid concentration in the presence of DEHBA. It took relatively long time for two-phase separation in the DEHDMPA-nitric acid system compared with the other two systems, and the separation time was independent of the nitric acid concentration.