Extraction Behavior of Some Actinides and Fission Products from Nitric Acid Medium by a New Unsymmetrical Diglycolamide

A new unsymmetrical diglycolamide, N,N-di-2-ethylhexyl-N',N'-di-octyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide, trivially known as di-ethylhexyl-di-octyl-diglycolamide (DEHDODGA) has been synthesized, and characterized by 1H, and 13C nmr, mass, and IR spectroscopy. Extraction behavior of 241Am(III), (152+154)Eu(III), 239Pu(III), 239Pu(IV), 233U(VI), 137Cs(I), and (85+89)Sr(II) from nitric acid medium by a solution of DEHDODGA in n-dodecane was studied, at 298-333 K. The effect of concentrations of HNO3 and DEHDODGA and of temperature on the distribution ratio (DM) was studied. Extraction of Eu(III), Am(III), Pu(III), and Pu(IV) increased with increase in nitric acid concentration, and the distribution ratio of Cs(I) was insignificant. However, the distribution ratios of U(VI) and Sr(II), though not insignificant, but was quite less compared to trivalents, and Pu(IV). The DSr(II) increased with increase in the concentration of nitric acid, reaching a maximum at 4 M followed by decrease. The stoichiometry of Am(III) - DEHDODGA was determined by slope analysis of extraction data, and the enthalpy change accompanied by the extraction of Eu(III), Pu(III), and Am(III) was determined and reported in this article.