Colombo Dugoni Greta, Mossini Eros, Macerata Elena, Sacchetti Alessandro, Mele Andrea, Mariani Mario
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci, 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy.
Department of Energy - Nuclear Engineering Division, Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy.
ACS Omega. 2021 Jan 28;6(5):3602-3611. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c05109. eCollection 2021 Feb 9.
In this communication, we report on the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for processing nuclear waste, with a view to selectively recovering minor actinides (MA) from highly active raffinate solutions. DESs are an interesting new class of green and eco-sustainable solvents. Herein, a representative family of DES was tested as a co-solvent for MA/lanthanides partitioning based on Selective ActiNide EXtraction (SANEX)-like hydrometallurgical processes. The reference system exploits the CyMe-BTBP lipophilic extractant for selective MA recovery, but the slow kinetics is the main limitation toward the industrial implementation. A selection of hydrophilic DESs has been proposed as a phase transfer catalyst and tested to improve the process performances. In this work, the radiochemical stability and the extraction behavior of these DESs have been ascertained. Moreover, a preliminary optimization of system composition has been achieved. This study underlines a catalytic effect of DES that can be proficiently exploited to enhance CyMe-BTBP extraction and selectivity.
在本通讯中，我们报道了使用深共熔溶剂（DESs）处理核废料，目的是从高活性萃余液中选择性回收次锕系元素（MA）。DESs是一类新型的绿色且生态可持续的溶剂。在此，基于类似选择性锕系元素萃取（SANEX）的湿法冶金工艺，测试了一种具有代表性的DES系列作为MA/镧系元素分离的共溶剂。参考体系利用CyMe-BTBP亲脂性萃取剂选择性回收MA，但动力学缓慢是其工业化应用的主要限制。已提出选用亲水性DESs作为相转移催化剂并进行测试以改善工艺性能。在这项工作中，已确定了这些DESs的放射化学稳定性和萃取行为。此外，已实现了体系组成的初步优化。本研究强调了DES的催化作用，可有效利用该作用增强CyMe-BTBP的萃取和选择性。
