Screening of TODGA/TBP/OK solvent mixtures for the grouped extraction of actinides

The solvent combination N,N,N'N'- tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA)/tributyl phosphate (TBP)/odourless kerosene (OK) is examined as a potential solvent system for a Grouped Actinide Extraction (GANEX) process to separate all of the actinides from fission products when reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. A series of solvent extraction batch experiments were performed with a range of TODGA/TBP/OK solvent combinations to assess the sensitivity of distribution values for a number of key elements towards [TBP] (0 ? 1.1M), [TODGA] (0.1-0.4M), [HNO3] (0.1-5M) and heavy metal loading ([U] 0-200g/l). There is little impact on DAm or DEu across the solvent range and no influence from U loading. Excellent DNp values (> 10) are observed, increasing with increasing [TODGA], with [TBP] having little influence. Such high DNp values may obviate the need for preconditioning of dissolved fuel feeds to control Np routing. High DTc values are found even at 5M HNO3, therefore Tc is expected to remain in the solvent phase. Both Pu(III) and Pu(IV) are readily extracted with DPu(III) > DPu(IV). Uranium is extracted by both TBP and TODGA and TBP is shown to effectively compete with TODGA for uranium coordination sites. Third phase formation occurs at high [U] loading and [HNO3] but is suppressed by increasing [TBP].