Investigation of a new extraction method for americium separation from high-level liquid waste

Suzuki, Hideya*; Ban, Yasutoshi  ; Tsubata, Yasuhiro   ; Hotoku, Shinobu ; Morita, Keisuke ; Toigawa, Tomohiro   ; Tsutsui, Nao  ; Kurosawa, Tatsuya*; Shibata, Mitsunobu*; 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 actinide (MA) from the chemically similar lanthanides is the key step. After MAs are separated from high-level liquid waste (HLLW), 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 new reagents, called HONTA and ADAAM have been developed. Solvent extraction tests were performed using a mixture of HONTA and ADAAM. As a result, the separation of Am from the simulated HLLW was achieved with high yield.