Actinides (like uranium, thorium, and plutonium) are extracted and purified using chemical and physical methods because they are radioactive and reactive. Here’s a explanation:
- Mining and ore processing
- Actinides like uranium and thorium are found in ores (e.g., uraninite).
- The ore is crushed and treated with acid or alkaline solutions to dissolve the actinide compounds.
- Separation from impurities
- Solvent extraction: Actinides are separated from other metals using organic solvents that selectively dissolve them.
- Ion exchange: Actinide ions are captured on resins, then eluted (washed out) with another solution.
- Purification
- Repeated extraction and precipitation steps are used to get pure actinide compounds.
- For plutonium, special care is taken because it is highly radioactive.
- Conversion to usable forms
- Uranium: converted to U₃O₈ or UF₆ for fuel.
- Plutonium: converted to metal or oxide for fuel or research.
In short:
- Crush and dissolve the ore.
- Separate actinides from other elements (solvent extraction or ion exchange).
- Purify through repeated chemical steps.
- Convert to usable compounds.