Study of plutonium recovery from acidic feed using polyethersulfone encapsulating TBP, DEHPA, and mixture of TBP and DEHPA beads

Polyethersulfone (PES) composite beads encapsulating the extractants di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (DEHPA), tributyl phosphoric acid (TBP), and mixture of DEHPA & TBP were synthesized. The synthesis was carried out using phase inversion method. Subsequently, these PES beads were applied for the recovery of plutonium [Pu (IV)] from different aqueous acidic medium. In kinetic studies, the extraction of Pu (IV) was found to be fast and equilibrium was attained within 5 minutes. In batch sorption studies, the role of aqueous acidity and nitrate ion concentration on extraction efficiency was evaluated. Also, the effects of variation of acid medium, concentration of metal ion, extractant concentration were examined for Pu (IV) recovery. Back extraction was effectively carried out using oxalic acid. The reusability of the PES beads was tested for 10 extraction - stripping cycles.