Extraction of the transuranic elements from acidic media: Application in TRU waste management and in TRU analytical chemistry

Considerable progress has been made recently in designing and characterizing bifunctional extractants capable of extracting trivalent as well as tetra-, and hexavalent actinides from highly acidic nitrate, chloride, and perchlorate media. Noteworthy among these new bifunctional extractants is octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoyl-methylphosphine oxide (abbrev. CMPO). CMPO combines efficient extraction and selective stripping of actinides in the III, IV, and VI oxidation states, good selectivity for actinide over fission product except lanthanides, and good phase compatibility with paraffinic hydrocarbons diluents