A novel cloud point back-extraction of uranium(VI) from organic radioactive solution to slightly acidic aqueous medium

ABSTRACT

Stripping back uranium(VI) from an organic radioactive solution to an aqueous medium was rendered simple and quantitative by an unprecedented cloud point back-extraction (CPE_back) method. The concentration difference of nitrate ions in and out of the micelle was employed to change the uranium distribution coefficient in favor of the bulk aqueous phase. In addition, the monophasic nature of cloud point extraction and the complexing ability of oxalic acid with uranyl ion in the bulk aqueous phase resulted in the quantitative recovery of uranium in a single step. The CPE_back parameters were optimized through a cross-optimization process and the recovered uranium was quantified by the biamperometric titration method. The proposed analytical procedure resulted in high back-extraction efficiency and recovery of (99.6 ± 0.2)% and 99.2%, respectively. The process turned large volumes of organic radioactive solution into small volumes of a less hazardous organic medium having high viscosity and negligible vapor pressure. Analysis of two real samples of ~17 and 165 mL organic radioactive solutions resulted in 99% and 98.2% uranium recoveries, respectively. The leftover organic phase containing the extractant and nonionic surfactant can now be easily stored or reused.

KEYWORDS:

• Uranium
• cloud point extraction
• oxalic acid
• uranyl ion
• tributyl phosphate
• perchlorate medium

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Dr P.K. Mohapatra, Associate Director, RC & IG, BARC for his constant encouragement throughout the work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).