Abstract

Uranium recovery from concentrated phosphoric acid by using a synergistic organophosphorous solvent

Author(s): A.Ahmed Abdel-Khalek, M.M.Ali, A.E.M.Hussein, A.F.Abdel-Magied

Extraction of U(VI) fromconcentrated Egyptian phosphoric acid with synergistic mixture of di-nonyl phenyl phosphoric acid (DNPPA) and di-butyl butyl phosphonate (DBBP), was investigated. The distribution of U(VI) was studied at different concentrations of DNPPA, DBBP, phosphoric acid and other parameters. The data on the effect of temperature on the extraction showed that the enthalpy change is -11.5 KJ/mol. Uraniumextracted by DNPPA-DBBP is further subjected to a second cycle of extraction and scrubbing impurities. The uraniumis finally converted to a high purityUO3 product using precipitationwith hydrogen peroxide and heat treatment at 375ï‚°C