TBP DECOMPOSITION PRODUCT BEHAVIOR IN POST-EXTRACTIVE OPERATIONS

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1963 · Nuclear Science and Engineering (U.S.)

OSTI ID:4119513

Hahn, H T; Vander Wall, E M

The behavior was studied of dibutyl phosphoric acid (HDBP) and its complexes in the uranium stripping and TBP scrubbing operations. The solubilizing effect of TBP upon UO/sub 2/(DBP)/sub 2/ is shown. At low concentrations of nitric icid and TBP, UO/sub 2/(DBP)/sub 2/ has greater solubility in the aqueous phase. For enriched uranium stripping conditions, the solubility ratio is almost unity, and DBP may partially accompany uranium through the stripping step. The partition of uianium between TBP-Amsco and dilute nitric acid solutions is shown as a function of both HDBP and TBP concentrations. In the region of interest, uranium appears to be extracted as a complex with DBP/U ratio of one. As the DBP/U ratio increases from one to two, solid UO/sub 2/(DBP)/ sub 2/ appears. Above a ratio of two, and in the presence of TBP, no solids remained after equilibration, indicating additional DBP-TBP complex formation. For the succeeding TBP scrubbing operation, the TBP distribution coefficient between Amsco and aqueous phase is 290. However, pilot plant experiments were unsuccessful in scrubbing to the desired phosphate level due to two effects. Laboratory studies indicated an equilibration time of two minutes, considerably longer than permitted in the pilot plant tests. The presence of an aqueous- favoring phosphorous species was also established. The latter can be removed by absorption on a hydrated zirconium oxide column and the column regenerated with NaOH. The absorption behavior of HDBP and a plant evaporator phosphate contaminant are compared. (auth)

• Research Organization: Phillips Petroleum Co., Idaho Falls, Idaho.
• NSA Number: NSA-18-006897
• OSTI ID: 4119513
• Journal Information: Nuclear Science and Engineering (U.S.), Journal Name: Nuclear Science and Engineering (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 17; ISSN NSENA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACIDITY
ADSORPTION
AMSCO
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
BUTYL RADICALS
CHEMISTRY
COMPLEXES
CONFIGURATION
CRYSTALLIZATION
DECOMPOSITION
DISTRIBUTION
EFFICIENCY
ENRICHMENT
ESTERS
EVAPORATION
EXTRACTION COLUMNS
FABRICATION
MEASURED VALUES
MINERAL ACIDS
MOLECULES
NITRIC ACID
OPERATION
ORE PROCESSING
PERFORMANCE
PHOSPHORIC ACID
PHOSPHOROUS ACID
PHOSPHORUS OXIDES
PRECIPITATION
PRODUCTION
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTION KINETICS
RECOVERY
REFINING
REPROCESSING
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
SOLIDS
SOLUBILITY
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
STABILITY
TABLES
URANIUM
URANIUM ORES
URANYL COMPOUNDS
URANYL NITRATES
USES
VARIATIONS
WATER
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES