Effect of gamma-radiation on the extraction of europium and americium by benzyldimethyldodecylammonium nitrate

Previously it was found that in the extraction separation on lanthanides and americium from acidic nitrate solutions of nuclear fission products, benzyldimethyldodecylammonium nitrate gives high values of separation coefficients. The change in the extraction capacity of this agent and its solutions in benzene in the extraction of Eu(III) and Am(III) was investigated as a function of the adsorbed dose of ionizing radiation. The slight reduction in the extraction of both metals is caused mainly by the radiolysis products of nitric acid in the organic phase that enter into secondary reactions with both the solvent and the extractant. Comparison of the radiation stability of benzyldimethyldodecylammonium nitrate systems with tertiary amines show that the changes in distribution coefficients in the range of investigated absorbed doses are significantly lower in the former case. The investigated system may be characterized as radiation stable up to about 100 kGy even in the presence of nitric acid.