Hexavalent Americium Recovery Using Copper(III) Periodate

Area of Science:

• Nuclear chemistry
• Radiochemistry
• Separation science

Background:

• Separating americium from lanthanides is a critical challenge in nuclear fuel reprocessing.
• Oxidizing americium to the hexavalent state offers a potential pathway for selective separation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate aqueous soluble copper(III) periodate as an oxidant for americium separation.
• To optimize solvent extraction conditions for hexavalent americium recovery.

Main Methods:

• Kinetic studies of copper(III) periodate autoreduction in acidic media.
• Solvent extraction experiments using diamyl amylphosphonate (DAAP) in n-dodecane.
• Assessment of americium recovery in varied nitric acid concentrations and presence of fission product simulants.

Main Results:

• Copper(III) periodate demonstrated potential as an oxidant for americium recovery.
• Successful americium recovery (distribution values up to 2) was achieved under optimized conditions without redox-active fission products.
• Presence of a post-PUREX simulant led to precipitation and suppressed americium distribution due to oxidant consumption.

Conclusions:

• Copper(III) periodate is a potentially viable oxidant for americium separation.
• Oxidant consumption by other metals in complex feeds needs to be addressed for practical application in nuclear fuel cycles.