US 6,312,653 B1Granted

Method for separating actinides and lanthanides by liquid-liquid extraction using calixarenes

AssigneeCommissariat a l'Energie Atomique

InventorsLaetitia Delmau, Nicole Simon, Jean-François Dozol, Bernard Tournois, Christine Roussin-Bouchard, Serge Eymard, Volker Böhmer, Cordula Grüttner, Alexander Shivanyuk, Christian Musigmann

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Abstract

The invention involves a process for separating actinides and lanthanides by liquid-liquid extraction by means of calixarenes. These calixarenes have the formula: with R1 and R2 being alkyl groups or o-nitrophenoxy alkyl groups and R3 and R4 being aryl groups, and they are used in an organic liquid phase containing an organic diluent. The diluent and the calixarene concentration of the organic phase are chosen so as to ensure an enrichment of the organic phase with the actinide(s) and/or lanthanide(s) to be separated from an aqueous acid or saline solution.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A process for separating at least one metal M1 selected from the group consisting of actinides and lanthanides from at least one other metal M2 selected from the group consisting of actinides and lanides from an aqueous solution containing M1 and M2, comprising:

(a) contacting said aqueous solution containing M1 and M2 with an organic liquid phase comprising
(i) at least one caliene of the formula:
wherein
R1 and R2, which can be the same or different, are alkyl or o-nitophenoxyalkyl groups, and
R3 and R4, which can be the same or different, are aryl groups;
and
(ii) an organic diluent selected from tho group consisting of the heavy alcohols and chlorinated solvents,
wherein said organic diluent and the calixarene concentration are such that the distribution coefficient of the metal(s) M1 between said organic liquid phase and said aqueous solution is greater than 1 and the distribution coefficient of the metal(s) M2 between said organic liquid phase and said aqueous solution is less than 1;
and
(b) separating said aqueous solution from said organic liquid phase.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.