TETRA-BUTYL-MALONAMIDE AND TETRA-ISOBUTYL-MALONAMIDE AS EXTRACTANTS FOR URANIUM(VI) AND PLUTONIUM(IV)

Two new symmetrical diamides, namely straight-chain alkyl substituted neutral tetra-butyl-malonamide(TBMA) and sterically hindered branched-chain alkyl substituted tetra-isobutyl malonamide(TIBMA) were synthesised, characterised and used for the extraction of U(VI) and Pu(IV) from nitric acid media into n-dodecane. Both. the cations were found to be extracted as their disolvates. Interestingly TBMA extracted more efficiently than TIBMA but afforded poor selectivity for Pu/U separation. The thermodynamic parameters involved in the extraction, determined by the temperature variation method, indicated the reactions in all cases to be enthalpy favoured. Entropy was found to be counteracting the extraction of U(VI) and favouring the extraction of Pu(IV). The recovery of diamides from the loaded actinides could be easily accomplished by using dilute oxalic acid or dilute U(IV) as the strippant for Pu(IV) and using dilute Na2CO3 as that for U(VI).