Feasibility of the Separation of Americium, Curium and Lanthanides by Electrolytic Amalgamation Technique

Abstract

As a part of work for developing chemical technique for mutual separation of trivalent actinides (americium and curium) and lanthanides, primary feasibility of the application of electrolytic amalgamation technique is theoretically studied. Reported polarographic data obtained in the past by radiopolarography were widely surveyed and used as the base of the calculation evaluation. Assuming the waste solution from the spent nuclear fuels, current-potential curves of related elements in the electrolytic system using mercury cathode were drawn, and the possibility of their mutual separation was discussed. In order to discuss its applicability to the actual separation, by using obtained electrolytic characteristics, decontamination of the lanthanide and Cm from Am in a constant potential electrolysis was evaluated. As a result, a possibility of practically satisfactory separation of Am from others by this technique was pointed out.

KEYWORDS:

• feasibility studies
• amalgamation
• electrolysis
• lanthanides
• actinides
• radiopolarography
• americium
• curium
• amalgam
• chemical separation
• group separation
• high-level radioactive wastes
• liquid wastes
• actinide recycle