新型亲水性多酰胺络合剂对大量铀中微量钚的反萃分离研究

Back-extraction Separation of Trace Plutonium from Large Amount of Uranium by Novel Hydrophilic Multiamide Complexing Agents

  • 摘要: 在乏燃料后处理铀纯化循环中,微量的钚经常会与铀共同被萃取至有机相而难以同铀分离,造成铀产品中的钚含量超标。为此,本文设计并合成了两种亲水性多酰胺络合剂2,2'-(甲基亚氨基)双(N,N-二乙基乙酰胺)(MIDMA)和N,N,N',N',N'',N''-六甲基-氮川三乙酰胺(NTAamideC1)用于有机相中微量钚的反萃,研究了两种络合剂对微量钚反萃的平衡时间,以及硝酸浓度、络合剂浓度、钚浓度、DBP(磷酸二丁脂)质量分数、相比等因素对络合剂反萃钚的影响。结果表明,两种络合剂在低酸、低钚浓度、低DBP质量分数的条件下均可以实现有机相中钚的有效反萃,其中NTAamideC1对钚的反萃率大于99%,且当硝酸浓度增大、钚浓度增大、DBP质量分数增大时,NTAamideC1仍可以实现对钚的有效反萃。在有机相中存在常量铀的情况下,硝酸浓度为1.5 mol/L时NTAamideC1的铀钚分离因子可达609,说明NTAamideC1可以有效实现有机相常量铀中微量钚的选择性反萃分离。

     

    Abstract: In the uranium purification cycle of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing, a significant challenge is the unavoidably co-extraction of trace plutonium with uranium into the organic phase, which leads to unacceptable plutonium levels in the purified uranium product. To resolve this issue, two novel hydrophilic multiamide complexing agents—2,2'-(methylimino)bis(N,N-dimethylacetamide) (MIDMA) and N,N,N',N',N'',N''-hexamethyltriacetamide (NTAamideC1)—were designed and synthesized aimed at selectively back-extracting trace plutonium from a 30% TBP-kerosene organic phase. A comprehensive experimental study was conducted to evaluate the back-extraction performance of the two complexing agents. The effects of multiple variables were investigated, including contact time, nitric acid concentration (ranging from 0.5 mol/L to 5 mol/L), complexing agent concentration (0.01-0.1 mol/L), initial Pu(Ⅳ) concentration (10-500 μg/L), mass fraction of the degradation product dibutyl phosphate (DBP, 0.05%-1%), phase ratio (O/A from 1∶1 to 10∶1), and temperature (293-323 K). The results demonstrate that both complexing agents could achieve effective back-extraction of Pu(Ⅳ) under the conditions of low acidity, low plutonium concentration, and low DBP concentration. Remarkably, NTAamideC1 exhibits exceptional performance, maintaining a back-extraction efficiency above 99% even at nitric acid concentrations as high as 5 mol/L. Furthermore, it shows strong tolerance to high DBP content (80% back-extraction efficiency at 1% DBP) and performs well under high organic-to-aqueous phase ratios (90% back-extraction efficiency at O/A = 10∶1). In the presence of high concentration of uranium (76 g/L), NTAamideC1 selectively back-extracts Pu(Ⅳ) without significantly back-extracting U(Ⅵ), achieving a high separation factor (SFU/Pu) of 609 at 1.5 mol/L HNO3. This performance surpasses that of conventional complexing agents such as acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) and hydroxysemicarbazide (HSC). Thermodynamic analysis indicates that the back-extraction process is endothermic and entropy-driven, with negative Gibbs free energy values confirming spontaneity at room temperature. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to elucidate the coordination mechanism. The results reveal that NTAamideC1 forms a stable tetradentate complex with Pu(Ⅳ) via one central nitrogen atom and three carbonyl oxygen atoms. In contrast, its interaction with \mathrmUO_2^2+ is weaker. Detailed electronic structure analysis—including Mulliken charges, Mayer bond orders, molecular orbital energies, and electrostatic surfaces potential—provides further evidence for the stronger affinity and selectivity of NTAamideC1 toward Pu(Ⅳ) over U(Ⅵ). The smaller HOMO-LUMO gap and greater charge transfer in the Pu(Ⅳ) complex indicate stronger orbital interaction between Pu(Ⅳ) and NTAamideC1. These results show that the hydrophilic multiamide ligand NTAamideC1 demonstrates outstanding potential for the selective separation of trace plutonium from uranium in nuclear reprocessing process. Its high efficiency, excellent selectivity, and robustness under industrially relevant conditions make it a promising candidate for application in advanced nuclear fuel cycle processes, particularly in uranium purification cycles where high decontamination factors are required.

     

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