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Recovery of Uranium and Plutonium from Waste Matrices Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction

¹ Chemistry Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India
² Chemistry Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India
³ Chemistry Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India
⁴ Chemistry Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India
⁵ Chemistry Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India

American Journal of Analytical Chemistry·Volume 03 (2012)·Pages 916–922·Published 31 December 2012·DOI10.4236/ajac.2012.312A121

Abstract

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of plutonium in its nitrate form from actual waste, i.e. plutonium bearing cellulose matrix was demonstrated using 0.1 litre capacity extraction vessel. Complete recovery of plutonium was demonstrated using modified supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc-CO 2 ) , i.e. Sc-CO 2 containing octylphenyl-N, N-diisobutyl-carbamoyl - methylphosphine oxide ( φ CMPO). Near complete recovery of uranium was demonstrated from simulated waste matri- ces, i.e. uranium bearing teflon, glass and cellulose matrices using preparative scale SFE, i.e. from 1 litre capacity ex- traction vessel. The recovery of uranium was established using Sc-CO 2 modified with acetyl acetone.

KeywordsSupercritical CO&ltsub&gt2&lt/sub&gtSFEUraniumPlutoniumφCMPOCellulose Matrix

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Recovery of Uranium and Plutonium from Waste Matrices Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction

Abstract

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