Dibutyl phosphoric acid and its acid zirconium salt as an extractant for the separation of transplutonium elements and rare earths and for their partitioning

Acid Zr salt of dibutyl phosphoric acid (ZS HDBP) dissolved in 30% TBP with isoparaffines was investigated and successfully tested on “hot” rigs as TBP-compatible solvents for TPE and RE recovery from simulated and real HLW, containing 1–3 mol/L HNO3, and for their partitioning with DTPA in formic media. Mo was also separated. The possibility of the use of 1–1.5 mol/L HDBP solutions in meta-nitrobenzotrifluoride (F-3) for these purposes is demonstrated as well. Addition of chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide (CCD) to ZS HDBP solution in F-3 gives rise to synergetic effect during extraction and, in combination with PEG, allows to extract Cs and Sr along with TPE and RE from HLW of mentioned acidity, and to separate the elements to fractions by their valence.