Solvent Extraction of Fission Products Using Tri-n-butyl Phosphate and Tri- n-Octylphosphine Oxide; LOSUNGSMITTELEXTRAKTION VON SPALT-PRODUKTEN MIT HILFE VON TRI-n- BUTYLPHOSPHAT UND TRI-n-OCTYLPHOSPHINOXYD

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4780457

Moustafa, Z E

The extraction of the following fission prcducts using undiluted tri-n- butyl phosphate (TBP) was investigated in dependence on hydrochloric acid concentration: Sb(III), Sb(V), As(V), Cd, Ce, Mo, Nb, Ru, Ag, Tc, Te(IV), Y, Sn(IV), and Zr. The HCl concentration was varied between 1 and 11N. All distribution coefficients were measured by forward and backward extraction. Differences were only observed in Ru and Sb(V), that is, the coefficients were higher in the back extraction than in the forward. In most elements the distribution coefficients increase with increasing HCl concentration, with a maximum occurring between 4 and 5N HCl. The curve track can be relatively flat (Sb(III), As(III), As(V), Cd, Ru, Tc, and Sn(IV)) or be precipitous (Sb(V), Ce, Mo, Nb, Te, Y, and Zr). Silver shows with increasing HCl concentration constamtiy falling distribution coefficients. Sb(III), Sb(V), As(III), Cd, Mo, Nb, Ag, Tc, Te, Sn(IV), and Zr were extracted almost quantitatively under optimum conditions, whereas As(V) and Ru are distributed almost equally between the two phases, and Ce and Y were extracted significantly only in concentrated HCl. A complete separation of the fission product mixture from HCl is not possible, on the contrary group separations were obtainable. In the range of optimum HCl concentration, extraction with diluted TBP up to 0.1M and 0.03 to 0.3M tri-n- octylphosphinoxide (TOPO) in benzene was investigated. In general the distribution coefficients sharply decreased with increasing dilution excluding Zr and Nb where the dilution is less effective. The distribution coefficients in 0.3M TOPO are generally approximately equal to that in pure TBP; in As(III) and As(V) as well as Cd, they are higher or lower by more than an order of magnitude. Carrier concentrations from 1 to 10 mg/ml do not significantly affect the extraction with TBP. Extraction with TBP and adsorption on ion exchangers show the same dependence on the HCl concentration. It can therefore be concluded that also for TBP extraction anionic metal complexes are prerequisites. The metal complexes react with the onium ion of the solvent yields P = OH/sup +/ Cl/sup -/ in the direction of ion exchange to a neutral extractable ion associate. (tr- auth) A process is given for recovering U from a Zr alloy containing from 1 to 50 wt.% U. The process comprises dissolving the alloy in a solution of HF and KF and separating a precipitate of mixed K and U fluorides from the solution. The effects of HF and KF concentrations on the efficiency of U precipitation are shown. (D.L.C.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-000243
• OSTI ID: 4780457
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CHEMISTRY
ADSORPTION
ALKYL RADICALS
ANTIMONY
ARSENIC
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
CADMIUM
CERIUM
COMPLEXES
DISTRIBUTION
FISSION PRODUCTS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MEASURED VALUES
MOLYBDENUM
NIOBIUM
OCTYL RADICALS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
QUANTITY RATIO
RUTHENIUM
SILVER
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
TECHNETIUM
TELLURIUM
TIN
YTTRIUM
ZIRCONIUM