Use of chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide in 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether as a promising alternative to FS-13 based solvents

Recovery of cesium-137 and strontium-90 from spent nuclear fuel is an important aspect from the safe management of nuclear waste point of view. Separation of these relatively long lived heat emitting radionuclides (137Cs t1/2 = 30.2 y, 90Sr: t1/2 = 28.5 y) from high level waste would be helpful for the safe management of radioactive nuclear waste. Also, the separated 137Cs and 90Sr have various applications viz., 137Cs can be used as an alternative source to 60Co in gamma irradiators for sterilization of foods, medical accessories, sewage sludge treatment, etc while can be used as heat source for thermoelectric generators, thermo-mechanical generators, as a source of 90Y which has pharmaceutical applications, etc. Simultaneous recovery of Cs and Sr was carried out by UNEX process in which a mixture of CCD + PEG-400 + CMPO in FS-13 was used for extraction of Sr and all actinides