Extraction of technetium (HTco4) with N,N,N′,N′-tetra(2-ethylhexyl) diglycolamide from simulated high level waste

Abstract

This paper investigates the extraction of technetium (VII) from simulated high level waste using TEHDGA-isodecyl alcohol/n-dodecane. The role of different process parameters affecting the extraction of technetium (VII) has been evaluated and used to arrive at optimum conditions for extraction of the metal ion. It is established that DTc of about 50 can be obtained from 0.5 M nitric acid using of 0.3 M TEHDGA in 5% isodecyl alcohol/n-dodecane system. Extraction from nitric acid medium and quantitative stripping of technetium using deionized water opens up possibility of successful deployment of the process for technetium separation from actual high level waste.