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Title: Process for recovery of uranium from wet process phosphoric acid

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6792956

Process is claimed for the recovery of uranium from wet process phosphoric acid solution in which an organic extractant, containing uranium values and dissolved iron impurities and comprising a dialkylphosphoric acid and a trialkylphosphine oxide dissolved in a water immiscible organic solvent, is contacted with a substantially iron-free dilute aqueous phosphoric acid to remove said iron impurities. The removed impurities are bled from the system by feeding the resulting iron-loaded phosphoric acid to a secondary countercurrent uranium extraction operation from which they leave as part of the uranium-depleted acid raffinate. Also, process for recovering uranium in which the extractant, after it has been stripped of uranium values by aqueous ammonium carbonate, is contacted with a dilute aqueous acid selected from the group consisting of H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, HCl, HNO/sub 3/ and iron-free H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ to improve the extraction efficiency of the organic extractant.

Assignee:
Freeport Minerals Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 4105741
Application Number:
TRN: 79-002637
OSTI ID:
6792956
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 8 Mar 1976
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English