Supported liquid inorganic membranes for nuclear waste separation

An immobilized liquid membrane comprising:

• a metal oxide separating layer adjacent a feed flow containing Am(VI), the separating layer defining a cylindrical core to receive the feed flow;
• and
• a supporting layer extending around the separating layer and being adjacent a receiving flow, the supporting layer formed of a separate material than the separating layer, wherein the separating and supporting layers retain an immobilized solvent adapted to extract Am(VI) from the feed flow for transfer to the receiving flow.

A method comprising:

• providing an metal oxide membrane including an immobilized solvent retained therein, the inorganic membrane including a metal oxide separating layer defining a core, a supporting layer extending around the separating layer, and an interface between the separating layer and the supporting layer;
• and
• applying a concentration gradient of oxidized americium across the inorganic membrane to transfer americium from a feed flow to a receiving flow, the feed flow and the receiving flow being in a direction generally parallel to the separating layer and the supporting layer, respectively.