Modifier-free separation of trivalent actinides and lanthanides from fast reactor simulated high-level liquid waste using N,N-di-octyl-2-hydroxyacetamide

The extraction behaviour of Am(III) and other metal ions present in the fast reactor simulated high- level liquid waste (FR-SHLLW) was studied using a modifier-free solvent phase composed of N,N-di-octyl-2-hydroxyacetamide (DOHyA) in n-dodecane. Quantitative extraction of Am(III) was achieved with the co-extraction of all lanthanides, Y(III) and Mo(VI) in the first five stages of a 20-stage mixer-settler. During the stripping run with 0.5 M HNO3, Am(III), Ln(III) and Y(III) were quantitatively transferred to the aqueous product in three stages. The other extracted metal ions were retained in organic phase. The results showed that the extraction performance of DOHyA was superior to other amide extractant systems reported in the literature.