Patent Number: 041622316
Section: claims

1. A method for recovering palladium and technetium values from a nitric acid nuclear fuel reprocessing waste solution containing these and actinide, rare earth and fission product values comprising: adjusting the nitric acid concentration of the solution to 0.5 to 3.0 M;  contacting the solution with an extractant of 0.05 to 0.5 M tricaprylmethylammonium nitrate in an inert water-immiscible aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbon diluent whereby the palladium and technetium values are selectively extracted from the solution; and  contacting the extractant containing these values with an aqueous solution 4 to 8 M in nitric acid whereby the palladium and technetium values are selectively stripped from the extractant, thereby recovering the palladium and technetium values. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the nitric acid concentration in the waste solution is adjusted to 2.0 to 2.5 M. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the extractant is 0.1 M in tricaprylmethylammonium nitrate.