Title: Separation of uranium from weak phosphoric acid using di-nonyl phenyl phosphoric acid in combination with tri-n-butyl phosphoric acid

Authors: R. Vijayalakshmi, S.L. Mishra, Harvinderpal Singh

Addresses: Rare Earth Development Section, BARC, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India. ' Rare Earth Development Section, BARC, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India. ' Head, REDS & OSD, IREL, S-30, REDS, South Site, Materials Group, BARC, Mumbai 400 085, India

Abstract: A process has been described for the extraction of uranium from weak phosphoric acid using di-nonyl phenyl phosphoric acid in combination with synergistic reagent tri-n-butyl phosphate. The effect of process parameters including concentrations of extractant and phosphoric acid has been studied. A plausible extraction mechanism has been established using slope analysis technique. The enthalpy change for extraction process, ΔH, was determined for the solvent with and without synergistic reagent. Based on the optimised parameters batch counter current extraction and stripping have been studied and the uranium recovery was found to be ∼80%.

Keywords: solvent extraction; uranium extraction; phosphoric acid; di-nonylphenylphosphoric acid; tri butyl phosphate; nuclear fuel; nuclear energy; nuclear power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2005.007140

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2005 Vol.1 No.2/3, pp.178 - 183

Published online: 29 May 2005 *

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