Understanding the radiolytic degradation behavior of the organic molecules involved in new or existing schemes for the recycling of used nuclear fuels is of major importance for sustaining a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The TALSPEAK process for the separation of the trivalent lanthanides from the trivalent actinides is one process that has been receiving increased attention in recent years. Despite this, there is still little known about the radiolysis effects on the aqueous phase complexants lactic acid and diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N",N"-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) used to accomplish this separation. This chapter discusses the results of our continued investigations into the radiolytic degradation of lactic acid in TALSPEAK aqueous phases and the resulting effects on the trivalent actinide/ lanthanide separation.
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