Highly efficient uptake of tetravalent actinide ions from nitric acid feeds using an extraction chromatography material containing tetra-n-butyl diglycolamide and a room temperature ionic liquid.

Abstract An extraction chromatography (XC) material containing N,N,N’,N’-tetra-n-butyl diglycolamide (TBDGA) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl) imide (C4mim∙NTf2), a room temperature ionic liquid, was used for the uptake of the tetravalent actinide ions Th(IV), Np(IV), and Pu(IV) from nitric acid feed solutions. The uptake of the metal ions followed the trend: Th(IV) 99% recovery in about seven bed volumes.