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SOLUBILITY OF ZIRCONIUM DIBUTYL PHOSPHATE IN SOLVENT EXTRACTION SOLUTIONS

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4197324· OSTI ID:4197324

The solubllity of zirconium dibutyl phosphate in aqueous uranyl nitrate and nitric acid solutions was found to vary from 0.35 to 159 rng of zirconium per liter, increasing with increasing uranium concentration. The solubility in 1.126 M TBP in Amsco 125-82 equilibrated with uranyl nitrate-nitric acid aqueous solutions was found to vary from 0.33 to 3.55 g of zirconium per liter. Particularly in the exbactant solutions, the solubillty of zirconium as zirconium dibutyl phosphate is well above the zirconium content of extensively burned natural uranium fuels under Purex process conditions. The zirconium dibutyl phosphate studied was prepared by direct synthesis in aqueous solution and found to have a variable composition. Precipitation from 2 M HNO/sub 3/ at 40 deg C yielded a product which had the approximate composition Zr (OH)(NO/sub 3/)(DBP)/ sub 2/. (auth)

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
NSA Number:
NSA-14-007450
OSTI ID:
4197324
Report Number(s):
ORNL-2857
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English