TITLE:
Recovery of Uranium and Plutonium from Waste Matrices Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction
AUTHORS:
Krishnamurthy Sujatha, Kancharlapalli Chinaraga Pitchaiah, Nagarajan Sivaraman, Thandankorai Ganapathi Srinivasan, Polur Ranga Rao Vasudeva Rao
KEYWORDS:
Supercritical CO2; SFE; Uranium; Plutonium; φCMPO; Cellulose Matrix
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Analytical Chemistry,
Vol.3 No.12A,
December
31,
2012
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-CO2), i.e. Sc-CO2 containing
octylphenyl-N, N-diisobutyl-carbamoyl- methylphosphine oxide (φCMPO). 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-CO2 modified with acetyl acetone.