Distribution and identification of Plutonium(IV) species in tri-n-butyl phosphate/HNO3 extraction system containing acetohydroxamic acid

• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-009-0524-6
• Publication Date: 2009-05-04T18:06:11Z
• Authors: P. Tkac; A. Paulenova; G. F. Vandegrift; J. F. Krebs
• Keywords: Acetohydroxamic acid; Nitric acid; PUREX; Stripping (fiber); Tributyl phosphate; Thenoyltrifluoroacetone; Third phase

There was a significant research progress achieved with the aim to modify conventional PUREX process by stripping of plutonium from the tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) extraction product in the form of non-extractable complexes upon addition of back-hold complexation agents. The present paper reports effects of such salt-free complexant, acetohydroxamic acid (HAHA), on distribution ratio of Pu(IV) under wide concentration of nitric acid and additional nitrate. General formula of plutonium species present in the organic phase can be described as Pu(OH)x(AHA)y(NO3)4−x−y·2TBP·wHNO3.