Synergistic effects in the extraction of uranium (VI) by di-4-octylphenyl phosphoric acid

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979 · Sep. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/01496397908068472· OSTI ID:5972447

Nagle, R A; Murthy, T K.S.

The extraction of uranium (VI) from sulfuric acid solutions by di-4-octylphenyl phosphoric acid (DOPPA) is enhanced by the addition of neutral organophosphorus compounds due to synergistic action. The effect of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP), dibutylbutyl phosphonate (DBBP), and tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) was studied. The synergistic effect increased in this order. In the case of TBP and DBBP the extraction coefficient for U (VI) decreased with increasing concentration of synergistic agent after reaching a maximum. With TOPO, on the other hand, there was an increase even after this limit. This was because of the extraction of uranium by TOPO itself. The effect of uranium loading in the organic phase on the synergistic behavior was studied and the results were compared with those obtained with di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (DEHPA) in the presence of the same synergistic agents. The results with these two extractants indicate that with TOPO the synergism is mainly due to the formation of substitution products of the type UO/sub 2/A/sub 2/B/sub 2/ and with TBP addition products of the type UO/sub 2/(HA/sub 2/)/sub 2/B.

• Research Organization: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay, India
• OSTI ID: 5972447
• Journal Information: Sep. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 14:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
URANIUM
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
PHOSPHONIC ACID ESTERS
PHOSPHORIC ACID ESTERS
SULFURIC ACID
SYNERGISM
TOPO
URANIUM COMPLEXES
ACTINIDE COMPLEXES
ACTINIDES
COMPLEXES
ELEMENTS
ESTERS
EXTRACTION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
400105* - Separation Procedures