THE SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF SELECTED ORGANIC COMPLEXANTS BY TRUEX PROCESS SOLVENT∗

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Abstract
The extraction by TRUEX solvent of 14C-labelled acetic, glycolic, and citric acids, and 14C-labelled glycine, EDTA, and ethylenediamine has been studied from aqueous solutions having different nitric acid concentrations. Only acetic and citric acids are extracted to a significant extent. Their behavior can be compared to that of oxalic acid. If the aqueous phase contains a high concentration of aluminum and iron(III) species, as in some nuclear waste solution, the extraction of aqueous complexants into the organic phase is strongly suppressed. By measuring distribution ratios of irradiated 14C-labelled acetic acid, citric acid and EDTA, it has been demonstrated that the radiolytic degradation of these compounds leads, at least in part, to oxalic acid. A scrub procedure, utilizing basic aluminum nitrate, has been successfully tested in order to remove any co-extracted oxalic acid from the TRUEX solvent.