Chemical separation and ICP–AES determination of 22 metallic elements in U and Pu matrices using cyanex-923 extractant and studies on stripping of U and Pu

Comprehensive studies have been carried out on the extraction behavior of uranium and plutonium matrices using cyanex-923 extractant. The near total extraction of U/Pu and quantitative separation of 22 metallic elements at trace levels has been established using inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–AES). The studies carried out on back extraction of U/Pu from organic phase have established the near total recovery of these matrices into the aqueous phase using 1 M Na2CO3 and saturated oxalic acid, respectively.