Studies on the Extraction of Actinides by Substituted Butyl Phosphonates

The extraction of actinides by homologs of dibutylalkyl phosphonates has been studied in detail. This study was taken up in order to understand the influence of the phosphorus-carbon bond in phosphonates on the extraction of actinides. In this context, dibutylhexyl phosphonate (DBHeP) and dibutyloctyl phosphonate (DBOP) were synthesized and characterized by various techniques. The physical properties of the two solvents and the extraction of nitric acid and actinides by these phosphonates were compared with those by dibutylbutyl phosphonate (DBBP). The physical properties such as density, viscosity, surface tension, refractive index, and solubility are reported here for the first time. Dispersion number, a dimensionless quantity that characterizes the ability of the solvent to separate from two-phase dispersion, is reported for all the three phosphonates. The extraction characteristics of actinides by these series of compounds are compared with those by tributyl phosphate (TBP).