Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The separation of lanthanides and actinides in supercritical fluid carbon dioxide

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide presents an attractive alternative to conventional solvents for recovery of the actinides and lanthanides. Carbon dioxide is a good solvent for fluorine and phosphate-containing ligands, including the traditional tributylphosphate ligand used in process-scale uranium separations. Actinide and lanthanide oxides may even be directly dissolved in carbon dioxide containing the complexes formed between these ligands and mineral acids, obviating the need for large volumes of acids for leaching and dissolution, and the corresponding organic liquid–liquid solvent extraction solutions. Examples of the application of this novel technology for actinide and lanthanide separations are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Loyland SM, Yeh M, Phelps C, Clark SB (2001) Effects of supercritical fluid extractions on metal ion partitioning as indicated by sequential extractions. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 248:493–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mincher BJ, Fox RV, Holmes RGG, Robbins RA, Boardman C (2001) Supercritical fluid extraction of plutonium and americium from soil using thenoyltrifluoroacetone and tributylphosphate complexation. Radiochim Acta 89:613–617

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Laintz KE, Wai CM, Yonker CR, Smith RD (1992) Extraction of metal ions from liquid and solid materials by supercritical carbon dioxide. Anal Chem 22:2875–2878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Shimada T, Oguma S, Sawada K, Enokida Y, Yamamoto I (2006) Selective extraction of uranium from a mixture of metal or metal oxides by a tri-n-butylphosphate complex with HNO3 and H2O in supercritical CO2. Anal Sci 22:1387–1391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kumar B, Sampath M, Kumar S, Sivakumar D, Mudali UK, Natarajan R (2011) Direct dissolution of intact UO2 pellet and in situ extraction by organic solutions of TBP-HNO3 at atmospheric pressure: role of solvate composition. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 289:861–864

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wang JS, Liao W, Wai CM, Yu JJ, Chu KH (2014) Characteristics of an oxa-diamide-HNO3 extractant in the supercritical fluid extraction of uranium. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 299:1693–1700

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Meguro Y, Iso S, Takeishi H, Yoshida Z (1996) Extraction of uranium(VI) in nitric acid solution with supercritical carbon dioxide fluid containing tributylphosphate. Radiochim Acta 75:185–191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Schurhammer R, Wipff G (2003) Uranyl extraction by TBP from a nitric aqueous solution to SC-CO2: molecular dynamics simulations of phase demixing. And interfacial systems. In: Gopalan AS, Wai CM, Jacobs HK, Supercritical carbon dioxide: separations and processes. ACS Symposium Series 860: 223–244

  9. Carrott MJ, Waller BE, Smart NG, Wai CM (1998) High solubility of UO2(NO3)2·2TBP complex in supercritical CO2. Chem Commun. doi:10.1039/A708113H

  10. Enokida Y, Yamoto I, Wai CM (2003) Extraction of uranium and lanthanides from their oxides with a high-pressure mixture of TBP-HNO3-H2O-CO2. In: Gopalan AS, Wai CM, Jacobs HK, Supercritical carbon dioxide: separations and processes. ACS Symposium Series 860: 10–22

  11. Enokida Y, Tomioka O, Lee S-C, Rustenholz A, Wai CM (2003) Characterization of a tri-n-butyl phosphate-nitric acid complex: a CO2-soluble extractant for dissolution of uranium dioxide. Ind Eng Chem Res 42:5037–5041

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Koegler, SS (2010) Development of a unique process for recovery of uranium from incinerator ash. In: Wai CM, Mincher BJ, Nuclear energy and the environment. ACS Symposium Series 1046:65–78

  13. Quach DL, Mincher BJ, Wai CM (2014) Supercritical fluid extraction and separation of uranium from other actinides. J Hazard Mater 274:360–366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, DOE-Idaho Operations Office contract DE-AC07-05ID14517.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Idaho National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID, 83415-4107, USA

    Bruce J. Mincher, Robert V. Fox, Donna L. Baek & Mary E. Case

  2. University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA

    Chien M. Wai, Clive Yen & Mary E. Case

Authors
  1. Bruce J. Mincher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chien M. Wai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Robert V. Fox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Donna L. Baek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Clive Yen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mary E. Case
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruce J. Mincher.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mincher, B.J., Wai, C.M., Fox, R.V. et al. The separation of lanthanides and actinides in supercritical fluid carbon dioxide. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 307, 2543–2547 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4576-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4576-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation