PROGRESS REPORT ON RAW MATERIALS FOR MAY 1957. Chemical Technology Div.

Technical Report · Fri Sep 27 00:00:00 EDT 1957

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4332988· OSTI ID:4332988

Brown, K. B.; Coleman, C. F.; Crouse, D. J.; Ryon, A. D.

Systematic Studies. A mixed n-octyl-n-decyl tertiary amine, commercially available in development quantities, appeared promising for process use. Its U extraction power was similar to that of tri-n-octylamine, and loss by distribution to a sulfate liquor was lower. A corresponding secondary amine was similar in extraction behavior to di-n-decylamine, but loss by distribution was higher. Screening tests of U extraction power from diluteacid test solutions are summarized for various organophosphoras compounds, with principal attention to dialkylphosphinic acids, monoalkylphosphonic acids, and some polymeric compounds. Unusually high U extraction power was shown by in alpha -hydroxy phosphinic acid, phenyl(1hydroxy-2-ethylhexyl)phosphinic acid. Uranium(IV) was extracted strongly from dilute icidic sulfate solution by a primary and s secondaryamine, but not bya tertiary amine. It was extracted more strongly than U/sup 6+/ from hydrochloric acid solutions by di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA). In contrast to U/sup 6+/, U/sup 4+/ extraction by D2EHPA was enhanced little if any by the presence of TBP. Process Development. In tests with tri-iso-octylamine, a number of diluent additives were tested for ability to prevent separation of amine heteropolymolybdate precipitates from the usual kerosene-alcohol diluent during the chloride stripping cycle. Addition of nitrobenzeneat 100 g/liter was effective for this purpose. In other tests, several of the Mo precipitates were separated and analyzed for amine, Mo, phosphate,and V content. The amount of Mo reporting to U products from the Dapex process varied with the method and conditions by which uranium was precipitated from the sodium carbonate strip solution. Direct caustic precipitation of the U gave products essentially free of Mo although filtration characteristics of the precipitate were poor. When the U was recovered by first acidifying with H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and then precipitating with NH/sub 3/, most of the Mo remained in the product even when an excess of ammonia was used. Recovery by acidification and precipitation with caustic resulted in better Mo decontamination, particularly when an appreciable excess of caustic was added. Engineering Studies. The rate of U extraction from a synthetic H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ leach liquor by a Dapex-tyne organic was proportional to the cube root of power input and was slightly faster in a 12-in. than in a 6- in. mixer at the same power input per unit volume. At a given power input the rate increased with decreased turbine diameter. Location of the turbine at one diameter from the bottom of the mixer tank provided only slightly faster extraction than at a center location. (For preceding period see ORNL-2346.) (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• NSA Number: NSA-12-000150
• OSTI ID: 4332988
• Report Number(s): ORNL-2366
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CHEMISTRY
ALCOHOLS
ALKYL RADICALS
AMINES
AMMONIA
BENZENE
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
DAPEX PROCESS
DECONTAMINATION
DEHPA
EFFICIENCY
EXTRACTION COLUMNS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
LOSSES
MIXING
MOLYBDENUM COMPOUNDS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
PETROLEUM
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORIC ACID
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
POLYMERS
PRECIPITATION
PRODUCTION
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM CARBONATES
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
STRIPPING
SULFATES
SULFURIC ACID
TBP
URANIUM
USES
VANADIUM