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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

SOLVENT EXTRACTION PROCESS

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4312425

In improved solvent extraction process is described for the extraction of metal values from highly dilute aqueous solutions. The process comprises contacting an aqueous solution with an organic substantially water-immiscible solvent, whereby metal values are taken up by a solvent extract phase; scrubbing the solvent extract phase with an aqueous scrubbing solution; separating an aqueous solution from the scrubbed solvent extract phase; and contacting the scrubbed solvent phase with an aqueous medium whereby the extracted metal values are removed from the solvent phase and taken up by said medium to form a strip solution containing said metal values, the aqueous scrubbing solution being a mixture of strip solution and an aqueous solution which contains mineral acids anions and is free of the metal values. The process is particularly effective for purifying uranium, where one starts with impure aqueous uranyl nitrate, extracts with tributyl phosphate dissolved in carbon tetrachloride, scrubs with aqueous nitric acid and employs water to strip the uranium from the scrubbed organic phase.

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-12-004595
Assignee:
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
Patent Number(s):
US 2809091
OSTI ID:
4312425
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English