EXTRACTION BEHAVIOUR OF TECHNETIUM AND ACTINIDES IN THE ALIQUAT-336/NITRIC ACID SYSTEM

The extraction behaviour of technetium, thorium, uranium, neptunium, plutonium, americium and curium in the Aliquat-336 (diluted with 1,3-diisopropyl benzene) - nitric acid system have been studied. Aliquat-336 (tricapryl-methyl ammonium nitrate) is a quaternary ammonium salt extracting different species with an anion exchange mechanism. Distribution data obtained are modeled by anion exchange (technetium) and ion-pair formation mechanisms (actinides) with the extraction of nitric acid included to account for the lowering of the free extractant concentration. Reasonably high distribution ratios were obtained for technetium and the tetravalent elements (Th, Np and Pu) and Aliquat-336 can therefore be useful for partitioning of these elements.