Development of a new extraction method for MA separation

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

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been studying partitioning and transmutation (P&T) systems. In the P&T, the separation of minor actinides (MAs) from the chemically similar lanthanides is the key step. After MAs are separated from high-level waste, the mutual separation of Am and Cm (Am/Cm separation) can be conducted. Therefore, the removal of the pyrogenic Cm nuclide would reduce the difficulties associated with MA-fuel fabrication. However, Am/Cm separation is very challenging because the two elements have similar chemical and physical properties. Highly practical a new reagent, called ADAAM have been developed. The Am is subsequently selectively stripped from the light lanthanides. As a result, Am was separated with high efficiency.