Extraction of actinides and fission products from salt solutions using polyethylene glycols (PEGs)

The extraction behavior of several metal ions viz., Am3+, Eu3+, UO22+, Th4, Sr2+ and Cs+ was investigated from sulphate medium employing phosphotungs tic acid (PTA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The influence of various para meters such as pH, PTA concentration, PEG concentration and salt concentrat ion was studied. The order of extraction followed the trend: Am3+>Eu3+>>Th4 +>UO22+>Sr2+>Cs+ which deviate significantly from the reported order with c onventional solvents. The relatively poor extraction of UO22+, Sr2+ and Cs was ascribed to their lack of interaction with the phosphotungstate anion. The separation behaviour of Am3+ vis-a-vis Eu3+ was also investigated unde r different experimental conditions.