Monazite-uranium separation and purification applying oxalic- nitrate-TBP extraction

الملخص EN

This paper describes the process of uranium extraction from the sulfuric liquor generated in the chemical monazite treatment through a solvent extraction technique.

The influence of the solvent concentration, effect of precipitating agent, effect of temperature, effect of stirring time and effect of pH were investigated.

The results indicated the possibility of extracting completely, uranium by using tri-butyl phosphate (TBP) as an extractant from leach liquor produced after sulfuric acid monazite digestion.

The stripping was carried out with cold water.

After selecting the best conditions for the process, which was 40-50% TBP/ kerosene (diluent) extractant concentration, 1.5-2M oxalic acid concentration as a precipitant for thorium (extracted with uranium), 45-60 minutes stirring time and temperature was 40-50 ºC.

A loaded stripping solution containing 0.1986g of U3O8 from the starting 0.21 g with more than 99% purity and 99.3% recovery was obtained.