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

Uranium extraction and production of yellow cake from phosphoric acid using solvents D2EHPA and TRPO

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

D. Ghoddocy Nejad
H. Zare Tavakoli
R. Roshani
A.H. Kiarashi

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 11365-8486, Tehran - Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2024.1548.2010
Abstract
In this research, uranium extraction from a phosphoric acid solution produced from a new phosphate ore from a Syrian mine was carried out for the first time using D2EHPA-TRPO solvents in kerosene. The goal of the research was to produce yellowcake from the phosphoric acid solution. The process involved primary solvent extraction, primary stripping, secondary solvent extraction, scrubbing, and finally secondary stripping with precipitation. Based on the results obtained, the optimal values for primary solvent extraction factors were: O/A ratio of 1/3, temperature of 40°C, mixing time of 7 minutes, and TRPO concentration of 6% (v/v). The optimal values for primary stripping factors were: O/A ratio of 34/1 (two steps with O/A ratio of 17/1), temperature of 40°C, and mixing time of 40 minutes. The efficiency of these two processes was 86.40% and 95.60%, respectively. The optimal conditions for the secondary solvent extraction process included an O/A ratio of 1/4, temperature of 40°C, and mixing time of 7 minutes. For scrubbing the charged solvent with sulfuric acid (w/v), 2.5% of the optimal values of O/A ratio of 10/1, temperature of 40°C, and mixing time of 7 minutes were used. Finally, for secondary stripping and precipitation of yellowcake, a 2M solution of ammonium carbonate was used at a temperature of 40°C, and the stirring time was 15 minutes.

Highlights

  1. Singh H, Mishra S.L, Vijayalakshmi R. Uranium recovery from phosphoric acid by solvent extraction using a synergistic mixture of di-nonyl phenyl phosphoric acid and tri-n-butyl phosphate. Hydrometallurgy. 2004;73(1–2):63–70.

 

  1. Singh S.K, Dhami P, Tripathi S, Dakshinamoorthy A. Studies on the recovery of uranium from phosphoric acid medium using synergistic mixture of (2-ethyl hexyl) phosphonic acid, mono (2-ethyl hexyl) ester (PC88A) and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP). Hydrometallurgy. 2009;95(1):170–174.

 

  1. USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). Mineral commodity summaries 2017. U.S. Geological Survey, 2017;202. https://doi.org/10.3133/7018019.

 

  1. Ragheb M. Uranium resources in phosphate rocks. Nuclear, Plasma and Radiation Science, Inventing the Future. 2010.

 

  1. Heffer P, Prud'homme M. Fertilizer outlook 2016-2020. 84th IFA Annual Conference Moscow (Russia). 2016 June;7.

 

  1. IFA (International Fertilizer Industry Association), 2015. Fertilizer facts, phosphate supply.

 

  1. Krea M, Khalaf H. Liquid–liquid extraction of uranium and lanthanides from phosphoric acid using a synergistic DOPPA–TOPO mixture. Hydrometallurgy. 2000;58(3):215-225.

 

  1. Beltrami D, Cote G, Mokhtari H, Courtaud B, Moyer B.A, Chagnes A. Recovery of uranium from wet phosphoric acid by solvent extraction processes. Chem Rev. 2014;114:12002–12023.

 

  1. Yan-Zhao Y, Si-Xiu S, Sheng-Yu F. Liquid-liquid extraction of uranium(VI) with 2-ethylhexyltolylsulfoxide (EHTSO). J Radioanal Nucl Chem. 2002;251:503–506.

 

  1. Khanramaki F, Torkaman1 R, Shirani A.S, Safdari S.J. Evaluation of mass transfer performance of uranium extraction from sulfate medium of Bandar Abbas with Alamine 336 in horizontal pulsed column by using axial dispersion model. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 2021;94(4):128-137 [In Persian].

 

  1. Ghoddocy Nejad D, Outokesh M, Abdshahi A, Khoshnoodi Kh, Ghadiri A, Akbari M. Feasibility study of uranium leaching from phosphate ore. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 2023;44(4):140-149 [In Persian].

 

  1. Badakhshan H, Gharib A, Panahinia F, Ghannadi-Maragheh M, Safdari S.J, Mallah M.H. Investigation of hydrodynamic parameters and separation efficiency for extraction of uranium by Tri-n octylamine in a horizontal pulse sieve plate column. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 2021;94(4):162-171 [In Persian].

 

  1. Ali H.F, Ali M.M, Taha M.H, Abdel-Magied A.F. Uranium extraction mechanism from analytical grade phosphoric acid using D2EHPA and synergistic D2EHPA– TOPO mixture. Int. J. Nucl. Energ. Sci. Eng. 2012;2(2):57–61.

 

  1. Dartiguelongue A, Chagnes A, Provost E, Fürst W, Cote G. Modelling of uranium(VI) extraction by D2EHPA/TOPO from phosphoric acid within a wide range of concentrations. Hydrometallurgy. 2015.

 

  1. Abdel-Magied A.F, Amin M.I. Uranium (VI) extraction from concentrated Egyptian wet-process phosphoric acid using a synergistic organophosphorous solvent mixture. Int J Ind Chem. 2016;7:21–28.

Keywords

Phosphoric acid
Uranium extraction
Stripping
Yellow cake
  1. Singh H, Mishra S.L, Vijayalakshmi R. Uranium recovery from phosphoric acid by solvent extraction using a synergistic mixture of di-nonyl phenyl phosphoric acid and tri-n-butyl phosphate. Hydrometallurgy. 2004;73(1–2):63–70.

 

  1. Singh S.K, Dhami P, Tripathi S, Dakshinamoorthy A. Studies on the recovery of uranium from phosphoric acid medium using synergistic mixture of (2-ethyl hexyl) phosphonic acid, mono (2-ethyl hexyl) ester (PC88A) and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP). Hydrometallurgy. 2009;95(1):170–174.

 

  1. USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). Mineral commodity summaries 2017. U.S. Geological Survey, 2017;202. https://doi.org/10.3133/7018019.

 

  1. Ragheb M. Uranium resources in phosphate rocks. Nuclear, Plasma and Radiation Science, Inventing the Future. 2010.

 

  1. Heffer P, Prud'homme M. Fertilizer outlook 2016-2020. 84th IFA Annual Conference Moscow (Russia). 2016 June;7.

 

  1. IFA (International Fertilizer Industry Association), 2015. Fertilizer facts, phosphate supply.

 

  1. Krea M, Khalaf H. Liquid–liquid extraction of uranium and lanthanides from phosphoric acid using a synergistic DOPPA–TOPO mixture. Hydrometallurgy. 2000;58(3):215-225.

 

  1. Beltrami D, Cote G, Mokhtari H, Courtaud B, Moyer B.A, Chagnes A. Recovery of uranium from wet phosphoric acid by solvent extraction processes. Chem Rev. 2014;114:12002–12023.

 

  1. Yan-Zhao Y, Si-Xiu S, Sheng-Yu F. Liquid-liquid extraction of uranium(VI) with 2-ethylhexyltolylsulfoxide (EHTSO). J Radioanal Nucl Chem. 2002;251:503–506.

 

  1. Khanramaki F, Torkaman1 R, Shirani A.S, Safdari S.J. Evaluation of mass transfer performance of uranium extraction from sulfate medium of Bandar Abbas with Alamine 336 in horizontal pulsed column by using axial dispersion model. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 2021;94(4):128-137 [In Persian].

 

  1. Ghoddocy Nejad D, Outokesh M, Abdshahi A, Khoshnoodi Kh, Ghadiri A, Akbari M. Feasibility study of uranium leaching from phosphate ore. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 2023;44(4):140-149 [In Persian].

 

  1. Badakhshan H, Gharib A, Panahinia F, Ghannadi-Maragheh M, Safdari S.J, Mallah M.H. Investigation of hydrodynamic parameters and separation efficiency for extraction of uranium by Tri-n octylamine in a horizontal pulse sieve plate column. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 2021;94(4):162-171 [In Persian].

 

  1. Ali H.F, Ali M.M, Taha M.H, Abdel-Magied A.F. Uranium extraction mechanism from analytical grade phosphoric acid using D2EHPA and synergistic D2EHPA– TOPO mixture. Int. J. Nucl. Energ. Sci. Eng. 2012;2(2):57–61.

 

  1. Dartiguelongue A, Chagnes A, Provost E, Fürst W, Cote G. Modelling of uranium(VI) extraction by D2EHPA/TOPO from phosphoric acid within a wide range of concentrations. Hydrometallurgy. 2015.

 

  1. Abdel-Magied A.F, Amin M.I. Uranium (VI) extraction from concentrated Egyptian wet-process phosphoric acid using a synergistic organophosphorous solvent mixture. Int J Ind Chem. 2016;7:21–28.

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