PROCESS FOR THE SEPARATION OF AMERICIUM FROM CURIUM

摘要

Process for the separation of americium from curium contained in an aqueous nitric solution, wherein the initial solution undergoes oxidation at ambient temperature in the presence of phosphoric acid or phosphate ions at a concentration at the most equal to 0.1 mol per liter in such a way as to pass the americium at valency VI, the thus treated solution is brought into contact with a slightly reducing organic solvent having a high affinity for americium at valency VI in such a way as to extract the americium in the organic phase, the organic phase containing the americium at valency VI is then washed, followed by the re-extraction of the americium in the organic phase by means of an aqueous solution.