Separation of Am(III) and trivalent lanthanides from simulated high-level waste using a hollow fiber-supported liquid membrane

Facilitated transport of actinides and lanthanides from nitrate medium has been investigated through a hollow fiber-supported liquid membrane using a mixture of N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) and N,N-di-n-hexyl octanamide (DHOA) in normal paraffin hydrocarbon (NPH) as the carrier solvent. The influence of aqueous feed composition on the permeability of Am(III) is reported. Quantitative transport of Am(III) was observed in 45 min from a feed solution containing 1 g/L Nd at 3.5 M HNO3. Similarly, quantitative transport of Am(III) was also achieved in 30 min from a simulated high-level waste (SHLW) solution containing ∼0.6 g/L total lanthanides. No significant transport of other metal ions present in SHLW was observed. Use of irradiated solvent suggested negligible change on the transport behaviour of Am(III). Hollow fiber-supported liquid membrane containing TODGA and DHOA in NPH appears promising for the separation of actinides from high-level waste.