Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Uranium recovery from laboratory wastewater in phosphoric acid medium

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

K. Fatemi
M. Habibi Zare
H. Vakili

Nuclear Reactors Fuel Co, AEOI, P.O.Box: 81465-1957, Isfahan - Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2021.1164
Abstract
In SOOREH Co, a significant amount of uranium-containing phosphoric acid wastewater from analytical operations is produced on a large volume of process samples. Uranium recovery and its optimal use in the UF6 gas production cycle is the most important goal of this research. To achieve this goal, two methods for the recovery of uranium from this wastewater have been investigated. The first method is to use TBP and D2EHPA extractant diluted with kerosene. The results of this study showed that up to 98% of uranium is extracted from laboratory wastewater, 95% of which can be stripped from the organic phase by ammonium bicarbonate solution. The second method is to precipitate uranium using sodium dithionite. In this study, the two-step process of uranium recovery from phosphoric acid wastewater has been studied. The results of this method show that using sodium dithionite with two-stage precipitation, the concentration of uranium in the filtered solution of sediments is reduced to less than 0.2 ppm and this reduction in concentration is equal to the efficiency up to 99.99%. Therefore, the use of the sedimentation method to recover uranium from phosphoric acid wastewater by sodium dithionite is a more appropriate method compared to the solvent extraction method and is recommended for this type of wastewater.
 

Highlights

1. C. Gupta, H. Singh, Uranium resource processing: secondary resources. Springer Science & Business Media (2003).

 

2.         M.H. Sadeghi, M. Outokesh, M.H. Zare, Production of high quality ammonium uranyl carbonate from “uranyl nitrate + carbonate” precursor solution. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 122, 103270 (2020).

 

3.         R.A. Hermens, J.B. Kendall, J.A. Partridge, Recovery of uranium from solutions. Google Patents (1987).

 

4.         L. Clapp, M. Abdelrahman, P.E. Pana, Using Either Hydrogen or Dithionite as Reductant in Uranium Contaminated Groundwater at Postleach Uranium Mining Sites, South Texas. American Society for Engineering Education, p. 25.13.1-14 (2012).

 

5. K. Fatemi, et al, Recovery and Purification of Uranium from Dummy Fuel Plates with

Combined Precipitation Methods, J. of Nucl Sci. and Tech, 86(4), 85-92, (2019).

 

6. K. Fatemi, M.T. Nejhadkord, M. Habibi Zare, Recovery and purification of uranium from slags produced in UF6 production reactor, J. of Nucl Sci. and Tech, 90(4), 11-20, (2020).

 

7. K.  Nazari, M.G. Maragheh, A.J. Rad, Studies on extraction of uranium from phosphoric acid using PN-1200 extractant. Hydrometallurgy, 71(3-4),  371-377 (2004).

 

8.         W. Arnold, D. McKamey, C. Baes, Uranium recovery from wet-process phosphoric acid with octylphenyl acid phosphate. Progress report. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA) (1980).

 

9.         G.M. Ritcey, A. Ashbrook, Solvent Extraction. Principles and Applications to Process Metallurgy. Part I. (1984).

Keywords

Uranium recovery
Laboratory wastewater
Phosphoric acid
D2EHPA
TBP
Sodium dithionate
1. C. Gupta, H. Singh, Uranium resource processing: secondary resources. Springer Science & Business Media (2003).
 
2.         M.H. Sadeghi, M. Outokesh, M.H. Zare, Production of high quality ammonium uranyl carbonate from “uranyl nitrate + carbonate” precursor solution. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 122, 103270 (2020).
 
3.         R.A. Hermens, J.B. Kendall, J.A. Partridge, Recovery of uranium from solutions. Google Patents (1987).
 
4.         L. Clapp, M. Abdelrahman, P.E. Pana, Using Either Hydrogen or Dithionite as Reductant in Uranium Contaminated Groundwater at Postleach Uranium Mining Sites, South Texas. American Society for Engineering Education, p. 25.13.1-14 (2012).
 
5. K. Fatemi, et al, Recovery and Purification of Uranium from Dummy Fuel Plates with
Combined Precipitation Methods, J. of Nucl Sci. and Tech, 86(4), 85-92, (2019).
 
6. K. Fatemi, M.T. Nejhadkord, M. Habibi Zare, Recovery and purification of uranium from slags produced in UF6 production reactor, J. of Nucl Sci. and Tech, 90(4), 11-20, (2020).
 
7. K.  Nazari, M.G. Maragheh, A.J. Rad, Studies on extraction of uranium from phosphoric acid using PN-1200 extractant. Hydrometallurgy, 71(3-4),  371-377 (2004).
 
8.         W. Arnold, D. McKamey, C. Baes, Uranium recovery from wet-process phosphoric acid with octylphenyl acid phosphate. Progress report. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA) (1980).
 
9.         G.M. Ritcey, A. Ashbrook, Solvent Extraction. Principles and Applications to Process Metallurgy. Part I. (1984).

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