Development of a new extraction method for minor actinide separation

Suzuki, Hideya*; Ban, Yasutoshi  ; Tsubata, Yasuhiro   ; Hotoku, Shinobu ; Tsutsui, Nao  ; Kurosawa, Tatsuya*; Shibata, Mitsunobu*; Kawasaki, Tomohiro*; Matsumura, Tatsuro  

A highly practical hybrid-type (soft -donor and hard -donor) extractant, which is an alkyldiamideamine (ADAAM), was investigated for the minor actinides (MA) separation. The new process aims at recovering americium (Am) alone from high-level waste liquid (HLLW) using an ADAAM. The principle of the process is based on the extraction of Am together with light lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr and Nd) and Mo having close values of distribution ratio, while curium, other lanthanides, and other fission products remain in the aqueous phase. The Am was subsequently selectively stripped from the light lanthanides and Mo using mixed solution (DTPA, malonic acid and ammonium nitrate). As a result, Am was directly separated from the simulated HLLW with high yield (95%).