Complexation of americium(III) with humic acid by cation exchange and solvent extraction

Complexation of Am(III) with humic acid was studied at various pHs in 0.1 M NaClO4. The stability constants of the Am(III)humate complexes were determined by a cation-exchange method. The values of logbeta(1) and logbeta(2) increased slightly with increases of pH from 4 to 6 and were found to be 6.9 and 11.6, respectively, at a pH of 5. Markedly larger values than these were obtained by a solvent extraction method. This discrepancy was also revealed by summarizing data from several literature sources. It is very likely that this can be ascribed to decreases in either humic acid and/or the extractant from the extraction system due to humate interactions at the aqueous-organic interface.