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

Abstract

Supercrit. fluid extn. (SFE) of plutonium in its nitrate form from actual waste, i.e. plutonium bearing cellulose matrix was demonstrated using 0.1 L capacity extn. vessel. Complete recovery of plutonium was demonstrated using modified supercrit. carbon dioxide (Sc-CO2), i.e. Sc-CO2 contg. octylphenyl-N, N-diisobutyl-carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (φCMPO). Near complete recovery of uranium was demonstrated from simulated waste matrixes, i.e. uranium bearing teflon, glass and cellulose matrixes using preparative scale SFE, i.e. from 1 L capacity extn. vessel. The recovery of uranium was established using Sc-CO2 modified with acetyl acetone. [on SciFinder(R)]