3-Phenyl-4-benzoyl-5-isoxazolone: A promising chelate extractant for actinide separation from acidic nuclear waste solutions

In the presence of tri-n-octyl-phosphine (TOPO) oxide, 3-phenyl-4-benzoyl-5-isoxazolone (PBI) has been found to be a promising chelate extractant for the partitioning of actinides from acidic nuclear waste solutions. Quantitative extraction of Pu and U is possible in the nitric acid concentration range 1–6 M, whereas Am can be extracted only from solutions with an acidity $̌2 M. Extraction studies of Am and U under varying loading conditions are also carried out and conditions for quantitative stripping are arrived at.