The performance of different extractants used for 'actinide partitioning', viz. TRUEX, DIAMEX and TODGA is compared in hollow fibre supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) technique for the separation of trivalent lanthanides/actinides from simulated high level waste solutions. In the case of TODGA solvent (0.1 M TODGA + 0.5 M DHOA), quantitative transport of Nd(III) and Am(III) was achieved in 30 min from 500 mL of feed solution containing 0.6 g/L Nd at 3 M HNO3 as well as from pressurized heavy water reactor-simulated high level waste (PHWR-SHLW). In the case of TRUEX solvent (comprising of 0.2 M CMPO as the extractant + 1.2 M TBP as the modifier in normal paraffin hydrocarbon), only 50% transport was observed which was attributed to the significant amount of acid transport, which in turn affected the dissociation of metal-ligand complex at the membrane-aqueous strip interface. However, quantitative transport of metal ions was even possible for TRUEX solvent after neutralization of feed acidity. On the other hand, DIAMEX solvent (I M DMDBTDMA) resulted in about 85% transport under identical conditions which was explained on the basis of relatively lower D-Am value under HLW conditions. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.