A comparison of the extraction capacity of trioctylamine and its radiolytic products dioctylamine and primary octylamine for the elements U(VI), Mo(VI), Zr(IV) and Sr(II)

The percentage extraction of the elements U(VI), Mo(VI), Zr(IV) and Sr(II) from 1–6 M nitric acid by trioctylamine (TOA) and its radiolytic degradation products dioctylamine (DOA) and primary octylamine (POA) in xylene have been measured. TOA and DOA showed similar extraction capacities for Zr(IV), but DOA was less effective than TOA for U(VI) and Mo(VI), Sr(II) was not extracted by any of these amines. These results suggest that the use of the “Zirconium number” is in itself not sufficient when considering the resistance of TOA to radiation.