Extraction of minor actinides, lanthanides and other fission products by silica-immobilized BTBP/BTPhen ligands

Abstract

Novel BTBP [bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine]/BTPhen [bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline] functionalized silica gels have been developed to extract minor actinides, lanthanides and other fission products. BTPhen functionalized silica gel is capable of near-quantitative removal of Am(III) in the presence of Eu(III) from aqueous HNO₃, while BTBP functionalized silica gel is able to remove problematic corrosion and fission products that are found in PUREX raffinates.