Americium separations from nitric acid process effluent streams

Plutonium recovery operations offer several points at which americium remov al may be attempted, and we are evaluating two classes of materials targete d at different steps in the process. Extraction chromatography resin materi als loaded with three different alkylcarbamoyl phosphinates and phosphine o xides are assessed for Am removal efficiency and Am/Fe selectivity from 1-7 M nitric acid solutions. Commercial and experimental anion exchange resins are evaluated for total alpha-activity removal from post-evaporator solutio ns whose composition, relative to the original nitric acid effluent, is red uced in acid and greatly increased in total salt content. With both classes of materials, americium and/or total-alpha reduction is sufficient to meet regulatory requirements even under sub-optimal conditions. Batch distribut ion coefficients and column performance data are presented.