Evaluation of N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentane-diamide (TODGA) as a mobile carrier in remediation of nuclear waste using supported liquid membrane

The facilitated transport of actinide ions and fission products, viz. Am(III), Pu(IV), Np(IV), U(VI), Cs(I), Sr(II), Eu(III), and Tc(VII) from nitric acid solution was investigated using a supported liquid membrane (SLM) containing N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentane diamide (TODGA) in n-dodecane as the mobile carrier. Influence of the concentration of neodymium, uranium and iron on the transport of Am(III) was also studied. The transport of Am(III), Eu(III) and Sr(II) from simulated high level waste (SHLW) solution was also investigated. Quantitative transport of Am(III) and Eu(III) was observed from SHLW within 15 h in distilled water used as the receiver phase when only ∼15% transport of Sr(II) was observed. The radiation stability of the liquid membrane was investigated after an irradiation dose upto 1.8 MGy. Different physical properties, such as viscosity, interfacial tension and refractive index of the irradiated TODGA sample are also reported and their role in transport behaviour is discussed.