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Title: SEPARATION OF URANIUM FROM THORIUM AND PROTACTINIUM

Abstract

This patent relates to the separation of uranium from thorium and protactinium; such mixtures of elements usually being obtained by neutron irradiation of thorium. The method of separating the constituents has been first to dissolve the mixture of elements in concertrated nitric acid and then to remove the protactinium by absorption on manganese dioxide and the uranium by solvent extraction with ether. Prior to now, comparatively large amounts of thorium were extracted with the uranium. According to the invention this is completely prevented by adding sodium diethyldithiocarbamate to the mixture of soluble nitrate salts. The organic salt has the effect of reacting only with the uranyl nitrate to form the corresponding uranyl salt which can then be selectively extracted from the mixture with amyl acetate.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
OSTI Identifier:
4215009
Patent Number(s):
2892677
Assignee:
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
NSA Number:
NSA-13-022168
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
CHEMISTRY; ACETATES; ACIDITY; ADSORPTION; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; CHEMICALS; ETHERS; ETHYL RADICALS; HYDROCARBONS; IRRADIATION; MANGANESE OXIDES; MIXING; NEUTRON BEAMS; NITRIC ACID; ORGANIC ACIDS; ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS; PATENT; PROTACTINIUM; PROTACTINIUM COMPOUNDS; QUANTITY RATIO; RECOVERY; SEPARATION PROCESSES; SODIUM COMPOUNDS; SOLUBILITY; SOLUTIONS; SOLVENT EXTRACTION; SOLVENTS; THORIUM; THORIUM COMPOUNDS; URANIUM; URANIUM COMPOUNDS; URANYL COMPOUNDS; URANYL NITRATES

Citation Formats

Musgrave, W K.R. SEPARATION OF URANIUM FROM THORIUM AND PROTACTINIUM. United States: N. p., 1959. Web.
Musgrave, W K.R. SEPARATION OF URANIUM FROM THORIUM AND PROTACTINIUM. United States.
Musgrave, W K.R. Tue . "SEPARATION OF URANIUM FROM THORIUM AND PROTACTINIUM". United States.
@article{osti_4215009,
title = {SEPARATION OF URANIUM FROM THORIUM AND PROTACTINIUM},
author = {Musgrave, W K.R.},
abstractNote = {This patent relates to the separation of uranium from thorium and protactinium; such mixtures of elements usually being obtained by neutron irradiation of thorium. The method of separating the constituents has been first to dissolve the mixture of elements in concertrated nitric acid and then to remove the protactinium by absorption on manganese dioxide and the uranium by solvent extraction with ether. Prior to now, comparatively large amounts of thorium were extracted with the uranium. According to the invention this is completely prevented by adding sodium diethyldithiocarbamate to the mixture of soluble nitrate salts. The organic salt has the effect of reacting only with the uranyl nitrate to form the corresponding uranyl salt which can then be selectively extracted from the mixture with amyl acetate.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1959},
month = {6}
}