Comparison of Extraction Behavior of Neptunium from Nitric Acid Medium Employing Tri-n-Butyl Phosphate and N,N-dihexyl Octanamide as Extractants

Extraction behavior of neptunium has been compared for tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and N,N-dihexyl octanamide (DHOA) extractants as a function of nitric acid concentration (0.5 - 6M HNO3), uranium loading (50 and 300 g/L relevant to Pu rich fast reactor and Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor, PHWR spent fuels, respectively), and in the presence of oxidizing and reducing agents. These studies suggest the possibility of co-recovery of U(VI), Pu(IV) and Np(IV) from spent fuel dissolver solutions (of Pu rich fuels) employing DHOA as extractant.