Modification of TODGA-n-dodecane solvent with a monoamide for high loading of lanthanides(III) and actinides(III)

N,N,N',N'-Tetraoctyl-3-oxapentanediamide (TODGA) in n-dodecane solvent was studied to clarify the characteristics of third phase formation in extraction of lanthanides(III) and to modify the solvent. The loading capacity of the solvent was found to be dependent not only on the aqueous acidity and the temperature but also on molecular size of alkane solvent and kinds of aqueous anions. The loading capacity of 0.1 M TODGA-n-dodecane was 0.008 M Nd(III) with an aqueous phase of 3 M HNO3. Addition of N,N,-dihexyloctanamide (DHOA) of more than 0.5 M to the solvent eliminated the third phase in the extraction of Nd(III). The modified solvent of 0.1 M or 0.2 M TODGA with 1 M DHOA exhibited a satisfactorily high metal loading and slightly lower extractability for Nd(III) and moderately higher extraction of HNO3 than neat TODGA.