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GEM-BIS (DISUBSTITUTEDPHOSPHINYL) ALKANES. II. EXTRACTION PROPERTIES OF BIS(DI-N-HEXYLPHOSPHINYL) METHANE

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4637427

Bis (di-n-hexylphosphinyl)methane, HDPM, an extractart for a variety of metals. HDPM was evaluated as an extractant for uranium(VI) and compared with tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, TOPO, (C/sub 8/H/sub 13/)/sub 3/PO. In nonpolar solvents, HDPM forms a polymeric -like substance with compounds of uranium(VI). Viscosity measurements indicate that the molecular weight of the polymeric-like substance is about 100 times greater than the corresponding complex with TOPO. Polymer formation occurs only when nonpolar solvents are used as dtluents for HDPM and is easily avoided by using polar solvents such as 1,2-dichlorobenzene. HDPM forms 1: 1 and 2: 1 complexes with uranium(VI) nitrate. Equilibrium constants for the complexes as well as that for the 2: 1 TOPO complex were calculated and it was shown that the over-all constant is at least ten times larger for the HDPM complex than for the TOPO complex. The effect of concentration of various mineral acids, extractant concentration, temperature, and dtluerts on the extraction of uranium are also discussed. (auth)

Research Organization:
Ames Lab., Ames, Iowa
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-82
NSA Number:
NSA-17-035937
OSTI ID:
4637427
Report Number(s):
IS-284
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English