Increase in the separation factor between americium and curium and/or between lanthanides in a liquid-liquid extraction operation

Abstract

A method using diglycolamide for increasing the separation factor between americium and curium and/or between lanthanides during an extraction operation. The operation comprising putting an acid aqueous phase, in which are found the americium, curium and/or lanthanides, in contact with an organic phase non-miscible with water, containing at least one extractant in an organic diluent. The aqueous and organic phases are then separated, and the diglycolamide is added to the aqueous phase. This method can be used for processing and recycling irradiated nuclear fuels, in particular for selectively recovering americium from high activity aqueous solutions such as raffinates stemming from the processing of irradiated nuclear fuels with a PUREX or COEX™ method; processing of rare earth ores of the monazite, xenotime or bastnaesite type, in order to facilitate separation of <<lightweight>> rare earths from <<heavy>> rare earths and of yttrium, or that of two rare earths with adjacent or close atomic numbers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.