RECOVERY OF URANIUM BY ION-EXCHANGE

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1958 · Nuclear Eng.

OSTI ID:4333635

Arden, T V

Uranium can be removed in the form of a complex anion from solutions containing uranium salts (sulfates or phosphates) by treatment with an anion- exchange material in salt form. The uranium complex is then removed by further ion exchange in an eluting solution, usually an acid solution of ammonium nitrate or a mixture of sodium chloride and sulfuric acid. This known proccss (B.P. 626,882) can be used for the recovery uf uranium in the form uf a complex uranyl sulfate anion which is preferentially absorbed even when present only in low concentrations. Now cobalticyanide may be present in the uraniumcontaining solution especially when the ore under treatment is also a gold ore and has previously been treated with a cyanide solution. The affinity of cobalticyanide for the resins used in recent years, i.e., those containing quaternary ammonium groups, is so great that it is absorbed and cannot be removed by normal eluting solutions, thus preventing uranium uptake. It has now been discovered that certain resins have the properties both of taking up cobalticyanide and of releasing it again on treatment with a suitable solution, so as to allow continuous re-use. The best resin for this purpose is one containing a predominance of ethylamine groups attached to side chains. Others mentioned are those having predominantly benzylamine, ethanolamine and diethanolamine groups (783,591). The recovery process may also be carried out by passing the uranium and cobalticyanide containing solution in contact with a separate mass of anion- exchange material in salt form (filter for cobalticyanide) which mass is replaced when it will no longer trap the cobalticyanide while the mass by which the uranium is removed is periodically eluted and regenerated (783,592).

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-12-006972
• OSTI ID: 4333635
• Journal Information: Nuclear Eng., Vol. Vol: 3, No. 24; Other Information: (Permutit Co., Ltd.). British Patent 783,591/592. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

PATENTS
AMINES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIONS
BENZENE
COMPLEXES
CYANIDES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
ENERGY
ETHANOL
ETHYL RADICALS
FILTERS
GOLD
ION EXCHANGE
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MEASURED VALUES
MIXING
MOTION
NITRATES
ORES
PATENT
PHOTOGRAPHY
PINCH
PLASMA
RECOVERY
RESINS
SALTS
SODIUM CHLORIDES
SOLUTIONS
STABILITY
SULFURIC ACID
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
THETA PINCH
URANIUM
URANIUM PHOSPHATES
URANIUM SULFATES
URANYL COMPOUNDS