Solvent extraction of nitric acid, uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) by N,N,N',N'-tetrahexylsuccinylamide

A new kind of diamide N,N,N’,N’-tetrahexylsuccinylamide（THSA） was synthesized, characterized and used for the extraction of HNO3, U（VI） and TI（IV） in a diluent composed of 0.5 volume fraction 1,2,4-trimethy benzene（TMB） and 0.5 volume fraction kerosene（OK）. Extraction distribution coefficients of U（VI） and TI（IV） as functions of aque- ous nitric acid concentration, extractant concentration, temperature and salting-out agent （LiNO3 ） have been studied, and it is found that THSA as an extractant is superior to TBP for extraction of U（VI） and TI（IV）. Back extraction was also studied. At low acidity, the main adduct of THSA and HNO3 is HNO3.THSA. THSA.（HNO3）2 and THSA.（HNO3）3 are also found at high acidity. The compositions of extracted species, apparent equilibrium constants and enthalpies of extraction reactions have also been calculated.