A new combined separation scheme called the Actinide Lanthanide SEParation (ALSEP) process has been developed to partition minor actinides and lanthanides. The neutral ligand in this process is proposed to be either tetraoctyldiglycolamide or tetra(2-ethylhexyl)diglycolamide, collectively referred to as DGAs, alongside the acidic extractant 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono(2-ethylhexyl)ester, or HEH[EHP], both of which have been proven effective individually. When DGAs and either HDEHP or HEH[EHP] are combined in dodecane however, non-idealities exist in metal extractions (particularly with TODGA-HDEHP combinations), possibly indicating the presence of inter-molecular adducts. IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used to assess the coordination of neodymium in a post-extraction ALSEP organic phase to determine the contribution of individual extractants and adducts. This analysis is useful to determining the viability of certain extraction mixtures for the ALSEP process.

Speciation of lanthanides in proposed ALSEP organic phases

248th National Meeting (2014)

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