Abstract/Summary

CyMe4-BTBP and CyMe4-BTPhen are ligands planned for use in the selective actinide process (SANEX). The process was devised to extract the minor actinides from the lanthanides found in post-DIAMEX 4M HNO3 raffinate into the organic diluent cyclohexanone or 1-octanol. However, the raffinate is radiotoxic emitting α- and γ-radiation, which in turn propagates the radiolysis of these ligands resulting in degradation products. This thesis outlines the progress towards identifying and characterising the degradation adducts of CyMe4-BTBP in both cyclohexanone and 1-octanol by endeavouring to synthesize the degradation adducts.