Abstract :- In recent decades, extraction of actinides (U,Pu,Th) employing supercritical CO2has drawn attention owing to its inherent potential to minimize liquid waste generation. Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) offers faster extraction with fine control over extraction process by means of varying pressure , temperature conditions. Supercritical Fluids have hybridproperties of liquid and gas. Liquid like solvation and gas like diffusivity enable topenetrate deep inside solid matrix, extracting component of interest, thus capable of extraction from liquid as well as solid matrix. Metal ion is complexed withsuitable organic compound, which gets soluble in SC CO2 . SC CO2 acts as a solvent and after extractionescapes as gas leaving behind extractant. Various types of ligands such organophosphorus compounds, -diketones, macrocyclic compounds, amides, dithiocarbamates are employed.SFE offers attractive alternative to reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste.In this paper, research work carried out on the SFE of actinides (U,Pu,Th) has been reviewed.
Author :- Pradeep Kumar
Email:- pradeepk@barc.gov.in