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Title: THE EXTRACTION OF NITRATES BY PHOSPHORYLATED REAGENTS. I. THE RELATIVE EXTRACTION RATES AND SOLVATING MECHANISMS FOR URANYL NITRATE

Journal Article · · J. Inorg. & Nuclear Chem.

The partitioning of uranyl nitrate between a number of non-ionic phosphorylated reagents and dilute nitric acid was measured. Experiments at varying concentrations of the extractants (S) in an inert diluent such as benzene indicate that in most cases the disolvates aining the diphosphoryl group =P(O) -Y- (0)P=,(where Y is oxygen, methylene, or ethylene) also give disolvates when the latter are in large excess of the uranium, but when saturated with uranyl nitrate the solvates STAUO/sub 2/ The implications of these results are discussed. Electronegative or base weakening substituents on the phosphoryl group decrease the partition coefficient, and that obtained with triphenyl phosphate is almost six orders of magnitude lower than the partition obtained with tributyl phosphine oxide. Preliminary experiments with di-n-butyl phosphoric acids indicate that this reagent extracts uranium by a chelating mechanism accompanied by hydrogen ion liberation from solutions low in nitric acid (<3.0 M), and by a solvating mechanism similar to that with non-ionic reagents at higher aqueous acid concentrations. The structure of the uranyl dibutyl phosphate complex is discussed. (auth)

Research Organization:
Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
NSA Number:
NSA-13-015105
OSTI ID:
4253163
Journal Information:
J. Inorg. & Nuclear Chem., Vol. Vol: 10; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English