NOVEL DISSYMMETRIC N,N-DIALKYLAMIDES, THE SNYTHESIS THEREOF AND USES OF SAME

摘要

The invention relates to novel dissymmetric N,N-dialkylamides having formula (I), wherein R represents a straight or branched alkyl group at C₈ to C₁₅. The invention also relates to a method for synthesising said N,N-dialkylamides, and to the uses of same as extractants, alone or in admixture, in order to extract uranium and/or plutonium from an aqueous acid solution or to partially or fully separate uranium from plutonium in an aqueous acid solution and, in particular, an aqueous solution resulting from dissolving spent nuclear fuel in nitric acid. The invention further relates to a method for the treatment of an aqueous solution resulting from dissolving spent nuclear fuel in nitric acid, allowing the uranium and plutonium contained in the solution to be extracted, separated and decontaminated in a single cycle, without requiring any plutonium reduction operation, and in which one of the aforementioned N,N-dialkylamides or a mixture of same is used as an extractant. The invention is suitable for use in the treatment of spent nuclear fuel, in particular that comprising uranium (e.g. UOX) or uranium and plutonium (e.g. MOX).