Extraction behavior of uranium(VI), plutonium(IV), zirconium(IV), ruthenium(III) and europium(III) with γ-pre-irradiated solutions of N,N′-methylbutyl substituted amides in n-dodecane

Abstract

The extraction of plutonium(IV), uranium(VI), zirconium(IV), europium(III) and ruthenium(III) with γ-pre-irradiated n-dodecane solutions of methylbutyl substituted hexanamide (MBHA), octanamide (MBOA) and decanamide (MBDA) from 3.5M HNO₃ has been studied as a function of absorbed dose up to 184×10⁴ Gray. The distribution ratios (K_d) of uranium(VI) decreased gradually up to a dose of 50×10⁴ Gray and became almost constant thereafter, while ruthenium(III) and europium(III) were not extracted in the entire dose range studied. The K_d values of Pu(IV) decreased gradually up to 10×10⁴ Gray, for MBOA, and 30×10⁴ Gray for MBHA and MBDA and then increased up to a dose of 72×10⁴ Gray, indicating the synergistic effect of radiolytic products at higher doses. The extraction of zirconium(IV) was found to increase gradually up to 72×10⁴ Gray. However, the steep fall in K_d values of plutonium(IV), zirconium(IV) beyond a dose of 72×10⁴ Gray was atrributed to third phase formation. The radiolytic degradation of amides was monitored by quantitative IR spectroscopy and was found to follow the order MBOA>MBDA>MBHA at 184×10⁴ Gray having the amines and carboxylic acids as the main radiolytic products.