In an effort to isolate uranium from used nuclear fuel using both proliferation resistant and environmentally friendly techniques, we are developing new separation processes based on the rapid formation and persistence of discrete nano-scale uranyl peroxide clusters in aqueous solution. These species self-assemble when a uranium material is treated with hydrogen peroxide and a templating agent under specific pH conditions and their inherent properties suggest that they can be separated from other aqueous species using size-selective ultrafiltration. Here, we provide arguments based on spectroscopic and chemical evidence that stirred-cell mediated ultrafiltration using commercially available sheet membranes is an effective method for the recovery of uranium in the form of uranyl peroxide nanoclusters from many of the aqueous constituents of dissolved simulated used nuclear fuel.

Ultrafiltration of uranyl peroxide nanoclusters for uranium recovery from simulated used nuclear fuel

247th National Meeting (2014)

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