Extraction of metals using supercritical fluid and chelate forming ligand

Patent · Tue Mar 24 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:597116

Wai, C M; Laintz, K E

A method of extracting metalloid and metal species from a solid or liquid material by exposing the material to a supercritical fluid solvent containing a chelating agent is described. The chelating agent forms chelates that are soluble in the supercritical fluid to allow removal of the species from the material. In preferred embodiments, the extraction solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide and the chelating agent is a fluorinated {beta}-diketone. In especially preferred embodiments the extraction solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide, and the chelating agent comprises a fluorinated {beta}-diketone and a trialkyl phosphate, or a fluorinated {beta}-diketone and a trialkylphosphine oxide. Although a trialkyl phosphate can extract lanthanides and actinides from acidic solutions, a binary mixture comprising a fluorinated {beta}-diketone and a trialkyl phosphate or a trialkylphosphine oxide tends to enhance the extraction efficiencies for actinides and lanthanides. The method provides an environmentally benign process for removing contaminants from industrial waste without using acids or biologically harmful solvents. The method is particularly useful for extracting actinides and lanthanides from acidic solutions. The chelate and supercritical fluid can be regenerated, and the contaminant species recovered, to provide an economic, efficient process. 7 figs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Science Foundation, Washington, DC (United States)
• Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc., Moscow, ID (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5,730,874/A/
• Application Number: PAN: 8-253,000; CNN: Grant RII-8902065
• OSTI ID: 597116
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ACTINIDES
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHELATING AGENTS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
MATERIALS RECOVERY
RARE EARTHS
SUPERCRITICAL GAS EXTRACTION
WASTE PROCESSING