EXTRACTION OF PLUTONIUM BY CHELATING HYDROXYPYRIDINONE AND CATECHOLAMIDE RESINS

Four new chelating hydroxypyridinone and catecholamide polystyrene-supported extractants have been prepared and evaluated for their ability to selectively remove ppm levels of plutonium from a variety of acidic aqueous waste compositions. The hydroxypyridinone and catecholamide ligands, modeled after the metal ion binding sites found in siderophores, were derivatized to allow covalent attachment to a polymeric support. The synthesis, loading capacities and chemical stability of the new resins are reported along with the results from extraction studies evaluating their performance for the extraction of Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) from a variety of HNO 3 and NaN0 3 solutions up to 5 M and in competition with Fe(III), Al(III), Zr(IV) and EDTA. The kinetics of metal ion sorption onto the resins are fast, and the extraction results are compared to the commercial Chelex resin.