Metal extraction by N,N′-dialkyl-N,N′-diaryl-dipicolinamides from nitric acid solutions

Abstract

A study of americium, uranium and europium extraction by various dialkyl-diarylamides of 2,6-pyridine-dicarboxylic (dipicolinic) acid has shown that maximum extractability is achieved by using polar fluorine-substituted diluents. Generally, the diamide extractability is found to increase with the alkyl radical length. We have demonstrated the possibility to separate Am and Eu in solutions with a nitric acid concentration of 0.5–2 mol/l. The extractability of these diamides with respect to the three metals rises with the acid concentration increase to 6 mol/l.