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Liquid–liquid extraction of neptunium(VI) and neptunium(V) from carbonate solutions by methyltrioctylammonium carbonate in toluene

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Abstract

The liquid–liquid extraction, recovery of Np(VI) and Np(V) from the solution of Na2CO3 by methyltrioctylammonium carbonate in toluene was investigated. By the graphic slope analyses method, as well as by recording of absorption spectra for obtained solutions and method of calculated determination of solution properties taking into account water activity, composition was established for the carbonate complexes of Np(VI) and Np(V) being extracted, which, depending on extraction conditions, can be expressed by the following formulae’s: (R4N)2[NpVIO2(CO3)2], (R4N)3[NpVO2(CO3)2], (R4N)6[NpVIO2(CO3)4], (R4N)2[NpVIO2(CO3)2]·2(R4N)2CO3, (R4N)5[NpVO2(CO3)3], (R4N)7[NpVO2(CO3)4], (R4N)3[NpVO2(CO3)2]·(1–2)(R4N)2CO3, where R4N is the quaternary ammonium cation. The results have been obtained in the experiments, has much interest both in the field of alkaline radioactive waste management and with respect to their usage for extraction of transuranium elements during reprocessing of alkaline radioactive waste, as well as for liquid–liquid extraction purification of uranium and plutonium from admixtures of fission products. These techniques are used within the framework of a new alternative method for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in carbonate media the CARBEX (CARBonate EXtraction) process.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their deep gratitude to Alexander Mikhailovich Chekmarev for his exceptionally well-imed and useful remarks provided during the writing of this article, and express their heartfelt condolences for his untimely departure from our life. The work was supported by Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology. Project No. T–2020–009.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Miusskaya Square 9, Moscow, Russian Federation, 125047

    Alexander V. Boyarintsev, Sergey I. Stepanov & Alexander M. Chekmarev

  2. Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kosygina Street, 19, Moscow, Russian Federation, 119991

    Sergey A. Perevalov

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  1. Alexander V. Boyarintsev
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  2. Sergey A. Perevalov
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  3. Sergey I. Stepanov
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  4. Alexander M. Chekmarev
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by AVB and SAP. The first draft of the manuscript was written by AVB and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Conceptualization: SIS and AVB; Methodology: SAP and AVB; Formal analysis and investigation: SAP and AVB; Writing-original draft preparation: AVB; Writing-review and editing: SIS and AMC; Funding acquisition: SIS and AMC; Resources and supervision: SAP.

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Correspondence to Alexander V. Boyarintsev.

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Boyarintsev, A.V., Perevalov, S.A., Stepanov, S.I. et al. Liquid–liquid extraction of neptunium(VI) and neptunium(V) from carbonate solutions by methyltrioctylammonium carbonate in toluene. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 327, 385–393 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07487-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07487-w

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