Extraction of uranium from aqueous solutions by using ionic liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide in conjunction.
Uranyl ions [UO(2)](2+) in aqueous nitric acid can be extracted into supercritical CO(2) (sc-CO(2)) by using an imidazolium-based ionic liquid with tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) as a complexing agent. The transfer of uranium from the ionic liquid to the supercritical fluid phase was monitored by UV/Vis spectroscopy using a high-pressure fiber-optic cell. The form of the uranyl complex extracted into the sc-CO(2) phase was identified to be [UO(2)(NO(3))(2)(TBP)(2)]. The extraction results were confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy and by neutron activation analysis. This technique has potential applications in the field of nuclear waste management for extracting other actinides.
Wang
Joanna Shaofen
JS
Department of Chemistry, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA.
Sheaff
Chrystal N
CN
Yoon
Byunghoon
B
Addleman
R Shane
RS
Wai
Chien M
CM