ISOLATION OF NEPTUNIUM AS A MONO OCTYL PHOSPHORIC ACID COMPLEX BY LIQUID- LIQUID EXTRACTION

Journal Article · Tue Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1959 · J. Inorg. & Nuclear Chem.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1902(59)80194-9· OSTI ID:4241905

Peppard, D F; Mason, G W; Sironen, R J

The extraction of certain M(III), M(IV), and M(VI) actinides and lanthanides and Y(III) in the system mono(2-ethylhexyl) orthophosphoric acid (symbolized as H/sub 2/MEHP) in toluene diluent vs. aqueous HCl was investigated with respect to operational solvent and acid dependencies, state of oxidation, and Z, using the radioactive tracer technique. Through proper combination of soivent concentration and HCl concentration, systems may be devised by means of which M(IV) may be separated froni M(VI) and M(III), or M(VI) may be separatcd from M(III). The ratio of the K values for Np(IV) and Np(VI) respectively exceeds 10/sup 5/ as does the ratio of the respective K values for U(IV) and U(VI). The ratio of the K value of Np(IV) to tho K values of U(VI) and Pu(III) may be made greater than 101. A fiow sheet for the isolation of Np as Np(IV) was devised and tested. This procedure requires only a single extraction with H/sub 2/MEHP (in toluene) followed by multiple scrubbing with 12 F HCl containing hydroquinone, or 6 F HCl containing hydroquinone and hydriodic acid, the reducing agents serving to reduce plutonium to Pu(III). The mechanism of extraction was examined tentatively in terms of ion exchange analogy and chloride complexing. The antisynergistic interaction of TBP (tri-n-butyl phosphate) with H/sub 2/MEHP was utilized in effecting the return of Np(N) to an aqueous phase. (auth)

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Lemont, Ill.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-015182
• OSTI ID: 4241905
• Journal Information: J. Inorg. & Nuclear Chem., Journal Name: J. Inorg. & Nuclear Chem. Vol. Vol: 10
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACIDITY
ACTINIDES
ADDITIVES
AIR
ALKYL RADICALS
ALUMINUM
ALUMINUM NITRATES
ALUMINUM OXIDES
ATOMS
BINDING ENERGY
BORON OXIDES
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
CALCIUM
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICALS
CHEMISTRY
COMPLEXES
COMPOUNDS
CONFIGURATION
COVALENCE
CRYSTALS
DECOMPOSITION
DIAGRAMS
DIFFRACTION
DISTRIBUTION
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRONS
ESTERS
ETHYL RADICALS
EXPANSION
EXTRACTION COLUMNS
FABRICATION
FISSION PRODUCTS
FLUIDIZATION
HEATING
HEXANE
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
IDAHO
INFRARED RADIATION
ION EXCHANGE
IONS
IRON
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LIQUIDS
LITHIUM
LITHIUM OXIDES
MAGNESIUM
MATHEMATICS
MEASURED VALUES