Extraction of Trivalent Actinides and Lanthanides from Nitric Acid Solutions by Ion Flotation

To determine whether the deep extraction of trivalent actinides from liquid active waste is feasible, we made a detailed investigation into the ion flotation of europium (as a simulator of americium) and americium from nitric acid solutions by using as an SAS precipitant either lauril phosphoric acid (LPA) to reprocess 0.1–0.7 M HNO3 or diphosphine dioxides (PO) for 1–5 M HNO3. In all instances the extent of metal removal increases with floto-reagent expenditure. When the floto-reagent excess required for full precipitation is reached, the extraction of the metals under study is high, viz., 97–98% from 0.1 M HNO3 with LPA and ∽ 75% from 3–3.5 M HNO3 with PO per one flotation operation.