Solvent extraction of selenium in nitric acid; Evaluation of multiple extractants and proposal of a novel separation process

Ito, Kengo*; Kawakami, Takahiro*; Kato, Chizu*; Fukutani, Satoshi*; Matsumura, Tatsuro  ; Fujii, Toshiyuki*

Solvent extraction behaviors of Se (VI) from nitric acid solutions were investigated with multiple extractants used for uranium, plutonium, minor actinides, and rare earthelements separation processes from high-level liquid waste. During the processes, Se remained in the residual aqueous solutions, as all extractants showed distributionratios 1. In contrast, Se showed distribution ratios 1 with -phenylenediamine in dilute nitric acid ( 2 M HNO), octanol as the organic phase, and concentrated nitric acid (8 M HNO) for back extraction, suggesting a potential new single separation process and recovery of Se.