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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4126358

Stable organic condensation complexes of plutonium, in reduced or oxidized form, may be prepared using beta diketones and are useful in recovering plutonium from irradiated uranium. The complexes are prepared by mixing an acid solution of plutonium with the diketone and sufficient alkali to make the solution alkaline and are generally in the form of a red or red-brown crystalline precipitate. For complexes of Pu/sup 4+/, it is preferable to first precipitate it as Pu(OH)/sub 4/, dissolve it in acid, and then treat it in the above manner. In plutonium recovery, plutonium is first reduced and precipitated with a carrier, the plutonium in the precipitate redissolved in acid, and the acid solution treated to precipitate the complex which is then separated or extracted with an organic solvent. An extensive list of beta -diketones that can be used is given; other diketenes with their carbonyl groups separated by a relatively small number of carbon atoms may be used. Two examples of the preparation of such complexes are given using benzoylacetone and acetylacetene. (D.L.C.)

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-15-000286
OSTI ID:
4126358
Report Number(s):
GB 849651
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English