US 6,306,355 B1Granted

Method for separating actinides and lanthanides by membrane transport using a calixarene

AssigneeCommissariat a l'Energie Atomique

InventorsLaetitia Delmau, Nicole Simon, Jean-François Dozol, Bernard Tournois, Christine Roussin-Bouchard, Volker Böhmer, Ralf A. Jakobi, Oliver Mogck, Abdi Tunayar

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

The invention involves the separation of actinides and lanthanides by membrane transport by means of a calixarene. To this end, a first aqueous solution containing at least one metal from the group of actinides and lanthanides to be separated is placed in the compartment 3 and a second aqueous re-extraction solution such as a 10−2 mol/L solution of HNO3 is placed in the compartment 5. The membrane 6 is a microporous membrane of which the pores are filled with a liquid organic phase (calixarene and diluent) chosen in order to favour membrane transport of the metal(s) to be separated from compartment 3 to compartment 5.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A process for separating at least one metal selected from the group consisting of the actinides and lanthanides from a first aqueous solution, comprising:

contacting said first aqueous solution with one of the sides of a microporous membrane bearing an immiscible organic phase containing at least one calixarene of formula:
wherein
R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are alkyl or o-nitrophenoxyalkyl groups, and
R3 and R4, which may be the same or different, are aryl groups, and the other side of said microporous membrane is contacted with an aqueous re-extraction solution to transfer the metal(s) of the first aqueous solution into a second aqueous re-extraction solution,
wherein said immiscible organic phase comprises a solution of said calixarene(s) in an organic diluent, and the second aqueous re-extraction solution contains a mineral acid and has a pH less than or equal to 4.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/485,690Filed 19 Apr 2000
Priority: FR 97 1061325 Aug 1997
Granted: 23 Oct 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

G21F 9/06
Treating liquids: processing
B01D 61/38
Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary…
C22B 60/0295
Obtaining thorium, uranium, or other actinides: obtaining other actinides except plutonium
G21C 19/46
Of irradiated solid fuel: aqueous processes , e.g. by using organic extraction means, including the regeneration of these means