Extraction of americium,lanthanides and some fission product elements by bidentate phosphonates

The extraction of Am, Eu, Ce(III), Zr(IV), and Sr from aqueous nitric acid— nitrate media by dibutyl N,N-diethylcarbamylphosphonate and dibutyl N,N-diethylcar-bamylmethylenephosphonate dissolved in carbon tetrachloride was studied. The trivalent actinide and lanthanide elements may be separated in certain aqueous phase acidity regions from Fe(III), Zr(IV), and Sr, whereas the separation of actinide elements from the lanthanide elements is poor. The extractant to metal ratio in the extracted complexes of Am, Eu, and Ce(III) is 3. The interferences in the extraction due to acidic impurities in the extracting agent are discussed.