Porous Sorbents and Membrane Supported Specific Actinide Chelators and Solvent Extractants

摘要

The first part of this paper focuses on new catecholamide actinide chelators for application to both biological and environmental decontamination. The investigators have designed a structurally novel system, which they refer to as H-octadentate catecholamide ligands. Each of the points of the H has catechol moiety fixed to it. Synthesis of the catecholamide was designed so as to fix the ligand to a matrix and amend the ligand's geometry to the metal. Data from studies with the octadentate ligand, PLUTO, using synthetic buffered solutions and process waste solutions. Table 4, indicate an overall optimum actinide removal in the pH 6-7 range. The degree of decontamination is similar in that range for both buffered and waste solutions. A decontamination factor of 300 corresponds to 95% of the plutonium removed from solution after only one contact with the loaded resin. Americium removal is overall better from the waste solutions, with optimum removal of 12% to 80% in the pH range 6-7. The second part of this paper deals with multifunctional organophosphorus solvent extractants, such as octylphenyl-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide and dihexyl-N,N-diethyl-carbamolymethylphosphonate, supported on solid membranes and spherical sorbents. These systems are being tested for plutonium and americium recovery and purification. An overview is presented of recent laboratory and pilot-scale work on the actinide recovery and americium purification processes and associated chemical studies. 6 figs., 4 tabs. (ERA citation 10:039639)