Dissolution of uranium dioxide in supercritical fluid carbon dioxide

Uranium dioxide can be dissolved in supercritical CO2 with a CO2-philic TBP-HNO3 complexant to form a highly soluble UO2(NO3)(2).2TBP complex; this new method of dissolving UO2 that requires no water or organic solvent may have important applications for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels and for treatment of nuclear wastes.     

Separation of uranium from different uranium oxide matrices employing supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

Uranium from different uranium oxide matrices was extracted with tri-n-butyl phosphate–nitric acid (TBP–HNO₃) adduct using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO₂). While 30 min dissolution time at 323 K was sufficient for U₃O₈ and UO₂ powder, UO₂ granule (at 333 K) and crushed green pellet (at 353 K) required 40 min. Crushed sintered pellet required 60 min at 353 K for complete dissolution. Influence of various experimental parameters such as temperature, pressure, volume of TBP–HNO₃ adduct, acidity of nitric acid used for preparing TBP–HNO₃ adduct and extraction time on uranium extraction efficiency was also investigated. For UO₂ powder, temperature of 323 K, pressure of 15.2 MPa, 1 mL TBP–HNO₃ adduct, 10 M nitric acid and 30 min extraction time was found to be optimum. ~70% uranium extraction efficiency was obtained on extraction with SC CO₂ alone which increased to 90% with the addition of 2.5% TBP in SC CO₂ stream. Extraction efficiency was found to vary linearly with TBP percentage and nearly complete uranium extraction (~99%) was observed with 20% TBP. Nearly complete extraction was also achieved with addition of 2.5% thenoyltrifluoroacetylacetone (TTA) in methanol. The optimized procedure was extended to remove uranium from simulated tissue paper waste matrix smeared with uranium oxide solids.     

Selective extraction of strontium with supercritical fluid carbon dioxide

Strontium (Sr(2+)) can be selectively extracted from aqueous solutions into supercritical fluid CO(2) at 60 °C and 100 atm with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DC18C6) using CF(3)(CF(2))(6)CO(2) (-) (PFOA(-)) or CF(3)(CF(2))(6)CF(2)SO(3) (-) (PFOSA(-)) as a counter anion; at a mole ratio of Sr(2+) : DC18C6 : PFOA(-) = 1:10:50, the extraction of Sr (5.6 × 10(-5) M) from water at pH 3 is near quantitative whereas Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) at equal concentration are only extracted to a level of 7 and 1%, respectively; PFOSA(-) is an effective counter anion for selective extraction of Sr(2+) from 1.3 M HNO(3) with DC18C6 in supercritical CO(2).     

Liquid trapping after supercritical fluid extraction with modified carbon dioxide

A polarity test mix consisting of acetophenone, N,N-dimethylaniline, naphthalene, 2-naphthol, and n-tetracosane was spiked onto sand and extracted with carbon dioxide modified with acetonitrile, methanol, or toluene. The extracts were collected in chloroform, hexane, methanol, or a mixed collection solvent consisting of equal parts chloroform-hexane-methanol. The mixed collection solvent which showed excellent recoveries for pure CO₂, had the worst recoveries of all the collection solvents with modified CO₂. Overall hexane was the best collection solvent studied for these analytes under these extraction conditions.     

Direct coupling of capillary supercritical fluid chromatography with supercritical fluid extraction using modified carbon dioxide

Capillary supercritical fluid chromatography has been directly coupled with supercritical fluid extraction using modified carbon dioxide. The mixed fluids were prepared with a single pump on-line mixing system. The most important step in the SFE-SFC interface was the elimination of the modifier solvent. This was achieved by use of a coupled trap, 0.1 mm i.d. and 0.53 mm i.d. capillary tubing connected in series, with the collected solutes refocused on the second (0.53 mm i.d.) trap before transfer into the separation column. This enabled complete elimination of various modifier solvents and high efficiency collection of the solutes. The effect of the modifier on trapping efficiency was investigated using methanol, ethanol, dichloromethane, hexane, and toluene at a variety of concentrations. n-Eicosane was, for example, trapped quantitatively by modified carbon dioxide containing up to 13 % (w/w) methanol. The use of the technique has been demonstrated by selective extraction of n-paraffins, fatty acid methyl esters, and alcohols from a silica matrix; the effect of different modifiers on the extraction of a mixture of pesticides from soil has also been investigated.     

超临界CO_2萃取甾醇的研究(1)

本文用超临界ＣＯ＿２对高酸价麦胚油进行选择住萃取，结果表明，萃取温度和压力不同时，萃取物中甾醇的含量不同．且甾醇混合物主要为β－谷甾醇和菜籽甾醇。萃取物的酸价也明显高于高酸价麦胚油。     

In vitro dissolution study of uranium dioxide and uranium ore with different particle sizes in simulated lung fluid

Inhalation is one of the most important routes for aerosol particles of uranium compounds to enter the body. The main step for uranium to be available for blood circulation and for interaction with bio-molecules is the dissolution of the particles. Particle size effects on dissolution of uranium dioxide and uranium ore were studied in simulated lung fluid using the “batch/filter” method. Samples were fractionated to ten size ranges from <0.43 μm to >10 μm by cascade impaction prior to dissolution experiments. Dependence of dissolution kinetics on particle size and on the amount of uranium trioxide contained in the particles was observed.     

Extraction of atabron residues from cabbage with supercritical carbon dioxide

Summary In this work we present a new procedure for extraction of Atabron residues from cabbage samples using supercritical carbon dioxide. The results obtained with this procedure were compared with those obtained using traditional extraction methods for Atabron residues. The extraction yields found by both procedures are similar but SFE has several advantages, especially higher speed, greater economy, better selectivity and greater reproducibility.     

麻疯树叶二氧化碳超临界萃取物的化学成分分析

采用二氧化碳超临界萃取技术(Supercritical Fluid Extraction)及常用的溶剂提取法(Solvent Draw)研究麻疯树叶提取物的化学成分，用气-质联用(GC／MS)方法对分离的化合物进行结构鉴定，应用色谱峰面积归一化法测定各成分的相对百分含量，并对其进行分析。两种提取法结果显示：二氧化碳超临界萃取法具有对有效成分提取完全、效率高、耗时少等优点。     

Dissolution and extraction of actinide oxides in supercritical carbon dioxide containing the complex of tri-n-butylphosphate with nitric acid

Dissolution of individual actinide oxides (Th, U, Pu, Np), or their mechanical mixtures, as well as of solid solutions U–Pu, U–Np, U–Am and U-Pu-Eu oxides in supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SF-CO₂) containing the complex of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) with nitric acid (TBP–HNO₃) has been investigated. The effect of the calcination temperature of solid solutions of dioxides on the separation of actinides during supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has been studied as well. It was shown for the first time that milligram amounts of uranium dioxide could be quantitatively dissolved in (SF-CO₂) containing the TBP–HNO₃ complex and efficiently separated from Pu, Np, and Th during SFE of mechanical mixture of these oxides. On the contrary, both U and Pu are quantitatively dissolved in SF-CO₂–TBP–HNO₃ during SFE from solid solutions of U–Pu dioxide. An increase of the calcination temperature of the mixed U(IV)–Pu(IV) dioxide from 850 to 1200 °C has no influence on the relative extraction yield of these actinides during SFE. To cite this article: T. Trofimov et al., C. R. Chimie 7 (2004).

Résumé

Dissolution d’oxides d'actinides et extraction d’éléments dans le dioxide de carbone supercritique contenant le complexe tri-n-butylphosphate–acide nitrique. La dissolution d’oxydes de Th, U, Pu et Np, de leurs mélanges et de solutions solides U–Pu, U–Np, U–Am et U–Pu–Eu dans le dioxyde de carbone supercritique (CO₂-SC) contenant le complexe tri-n-butyl phosphate–acide nitrique (TBP–HNO₃) a été étudiée, et notamment l’effet de la température de calcination des solutions solides. On montre que quelques milligrammes de UO₂ peuvent être dissous dans le système CO₂-SC–TBP–HNO₃ et être séparés de Pu, Np et Th en traitant un mélange d’oxydes. En revanche, U et Pu sont dissous dans la phase CO₂-SC–TBP–HNO₃ durant le traitement des solutions solides U(IV)–Pu(IV). Une augmentation de la température de calcination de 850 à 1200 °C de ces solutions solides n’a pas d’effet sur le rendement d’extraction des actinides. Pour citer cet article : T. Trofimov et al., C. R. Chimie 7 (2004).     

Regeneration of cobalt-contaminated activated carbon by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

A mixture of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EPHA) and n-hexane or methanol is used as the extractant solution for extracting cobalt from activated carbon using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technology. In this work, a semi-continuous pilot unit of SFE is employed to conduct the extraction. In order to feed the viscous extractant by HPLC pump, n-hexane or methanol is added as a diluent to reduce the viscosity of the extractant. The amount of cobalt removed along the time course of the extraction is recorded and plotted as an extraction curve. A kinetic model is also established and fit to the extraction curve, and the obtained parameters of the model are used to explain the regeneration mechanism. The effects of temperature ranged from?40 to?80?°C and the effect of the concentration of diluents on the extraction are investigated and discussed based on the established model. It is also found that the removal of cobalt ions reaches a maximum; this varies with the operational conditions and is known as maximum removal efficiency. It is presumed that the maximum removal efficiency is affected by the adsorption kinetics of the extractant and the rate of ion exchange between the extractant and metal ions on the surface of the activated carbon. After increasing the extraction temperature from?60 to?80?°C it is observed that the maximum removal efficiency is greatly increased, presumably resulting from the diminishing competitive adsorption between the extractant and diluents. The established model can help to reveal the extraction mechanism and to promote maximum removal efficiency for regenerating activated carbon without secondary pollution.     

Stripping of uranium from an ionic liquid medium by TOPO-modified supercritical carbon dioxide

UO2+2, which is extracted from the aqueous phase into the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide(C2mim NTf2) ionic liquid phase with octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide(CMPO), can be stripped by supercritical CO2. Trioctylphosphine oxide(TOPO), the modifier added to the supercritical CO2 phase, enhances the stripping efficiency by up to 99%.     

Optimization of supercritical fluid extraction by carbon dioxide with organic modifiers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from urban particulate matter

The main advantages of using supercritical fluids for the extractions of organic pollutants from environmental matrix is that they are inexpensive, contaminant free, and less costly to dispose safely than organic solvents. In this work, a series of extraction experiments were carried out using CO2 as supercritical fluid on a certified sample of "Urban dust" (NIST S.R.M. 1649a) to optimize the analytical parameters with the aim of investigating the extraction limit of organic pollutant by using an almost "organic solvent-free" technique. The certified sample contains small concentrations of several organic pollutants, as PAH and PCB. The initial tests of extraction were carried out with only CO2 in supercritical phase, by maintaining the temperature at 50 degrees C and 80 degrees C and by making the pressure vary between 230 bar and 600 bar. The effect of three organic modifiers (methanol, n-hexane and toluene), added at 5% in volume, has been considered. The yield of recovery has been estimated for anthracene, fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene by GC-MS according to the increasing molecular weight.     

Spectrophotometric measurement of uranium(VI)-tributylphosphate complex in supercritical carbon dioxide

UV-visible absorption spectra of uranium(VI)-tributylphosphate (U(VI)-TBP) complex dissolved in supercritical CO(2) at 40-60 degrees C and 100-250 kg cm(-2) were recorded. Wavelengths and molar extinction coefficients for the absorption peaks of U(VI)-TBP were determined and confirmed to be in good agreement with those of UO(2)(NO(3))(2)(TBP)(2) complex dissolved in organic solvents such as n-hexane. The absorbance at a given wavelength was proportional to the concentration of U(VI) species in supercritical CO(2), indicating a feasibility of in-situ determination of U(VI) concentration in CO(2) phase. A lower detection limit of U(VI)-TBP complex was estimated to be ca. 1x10(-3)M. The molar extinction coefficient of U(VI)-TBP in supercritical CO(2) decreased slightly with an increase of the density of CO(2) medium, suggesting that the solute-solvent interaction of U(VI)-TBP complex with CO(2) was affected by the density. On the basis of the spectra obtained, phase behavior and solubility of UO(2)(NO(3))(2)(TBP)(2)+H(NO(3))(TBP)+TBP in supercritical CO(2) were elucidated.     

Selective extraction of astaxanthin from crustaceans by use of supercritical carbon dioxide

An on-line supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) system coupled to a continuous flow manifold including a UV detector was used as a screening system to extract astaxanthin from crayfish, which was found to be the major carotenoid present in the samples. This compound constitutes the principal additive used to dye salmon flesh. The flow manifold was used to confirm the presence of astaxanthin in the crustacean samples. Also, an HPLC/UV-vis method was used to ascertain that this compound was the major carotenoid extracted under the optimum SFE conditions employed. The influence of SFE operating variables such as pressure, temperature, equilibration time, extraction time, trap temperature, and volume of CO₂ modifier was examined in order to maximize the efficiency of analyte extraction. The use of supercritical CO₂ enables the expeditious, selective, quantitative extraction of astaxanthin from crustaceans.     

Seed oil extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide modified with pentane

Chromatographia - Soybean, wheat germ, sunflower and peanut oils were extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide modified with pentane. The extractions were optimized by chemometric methods using...     

Anomalous effects of helium head pressure carbon dioxide in supercritical fluid chromatography and extraction

Helium head pressure carbon dioxide cylinders are commonly used to facilitate the delivery of liquid CO2 to supercritical fluid extraction and chromatographic pumps. It is usually tacitly assumed that the helium used to increase the delivery pressure of the CO2 cylinders is completely insoluble in liquid CO2 and thus remains isolated in the head space of the delivery cylinder. This assumption is invalid because up to 5 mol% helium can be entrained in the liquid CO2 delivered from helium head pressure cylinders. Significantly, contamination of liquid CO2 with even small amounts of helium can cause many unforeseen and usually deleterious effects in supercritical fluid chromatography and extraction schemes. The observed anomalies include decreased density of the fluid phase, irreproducible extraction and retention, ghost peaks, and even phase separation within the column or extraction vessel.