Selective Am(III) stripping with water-soluble PyTri-Diol in nitric acid from HDEHP organic phase

Hydrophilic 2,6-bis[1-(propan-1-ol)-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)] pyridine (PyTri-Diol) was synthesized and tested for selective complexation of Am(III) into nitric acid solution from acidic bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric (HDEHP) acid extractant. As the result of stripping experiments showed, PyTri-Diol dramatically promote Am(III) stripping in nitric acid up to 0.5 mol/L while the majority of Eu(III) was hold in the HDEHP phase. Separation factors in the range of 900 are achieved and PyTri-Diol remains active in nitric acid up to 0.5 mol/L without buffered solution or salting-out agent. The above properties of PyTri-Diol demonstrate the great potential for separating the minor actinides from the lanthanides in the TALSPEAK process.