Extractive separation of Th(IV), U(VI), Ti(IV), La(III) and Fe(III) from Zarigan ore

In this study, the effects of various extraction parameters such as extractant types (Cyanex302, Cyanex272, TBP), acid type (nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric) and their concentrations were studied on the thorium separation efficiency from uranium(VI), titanium(IV), lanthanum(III), iron(III) using Taguchi^??s method. Results showed that, all these variables had significant effects on the selective thorium separation. The optimum separations of thorium from uranium, titanium and iron were achieved by Cyanex302. The aqueous solutions of 0.01 and 1 M nitric acid were found as the best aqueous conditions for separating of thorium from titanium (or iron) and uranium, respectively. The combination of 0.01 M nitric acid and Cyanex272 were found that to be the optimum conditions for the selective separation of thorium from lanthanum. The results also showed that TBP could selectively extract all studied elements into organic phase leaving thorium behind in the aqueous phase. Detailed experiments showed that 0.5 M HNO₃ is the optimum acid concentration for separating of thorium from other elements with acidic extractants such as Cyanex272 and Cyanex302. The two-stage process containing TBP-Cyanex302 was proposed for separation thorium and uranium from Zarigan ore leachate.     

Separation of zirconium and hafnium from early actinides and rare earth elements with eichrom’s pb resin in HCl

The separation of zirconium and hafnium isotopes from the early actinides and rare earth elements (REE) with Eichrom’s Pb resin has been studied. Batch studies were performed to characterize the behavior of actinium, thorium, zirconium, hafnium, lutetium, and yttrium on Pb resin from HCl solutions (0.001 M to 11 M). The early actinides and REE had no affinity for the resin at any concentration of HCl, but zirconium and hafnium showed a moderate uptake at high concentrations of HCl with a maximum extraction at 11 M HCl. Several column separations were tested, including with only tracer isotopes and with mass. Rapid, simple separations of zirconium from actinium, thorium, protactinium, and the REE with high yields and low elution volumes are presented with applications for tracer isotope production and fission product separations. The resin is less suitable for hafnium separations as hafnium tends to bleed off the resin even at high concentrations of HCl.

     

Zur Abtrennung und Dekontamination von Uran aus salpetersauren Spaltproduktlösungen mit Anionenaustauschern

Weight distribution coefficients for U(VI) against Dowex 1 and Dowex 2 in HCl/HNO₃ and practical column-exchange capacities under defined conditions were determined. The behaviour of thorium, protactinium, iron, zirconium, niobium, ruthenium, and tellurium in the same system was studied in column experiments. The results of these determinations are discussed. An ion exchange procedure for enrichment and decontamination of uranium from fission products and thorium containing nitric acid solutions with the aid of a simple remoted handling apparatus is described.     

Effect of complexants on the adsorption and color reactions of lanthanum(III), uranium(VI), thorium(IV), and zirconium(IV) with Arsenazo M in the solid phase of an ANKB-50 fibrous ion-exchanger

The effect of complexants—acetic, aminoacetic, tartaric, malonic, and oxalic acids; EDTA; and Na₂CO₃—on the adsorption and subsequent determination of thorium(IV), lanthanum(III), uranium(VI), and zirconium(IV) with Arsenazo M in the solid phase of polyacrylonitrile fiber filled with an ANKB-50 anion exchanger was studied. Complexing agents were introduced into the solution at the step of metal ion adsorption. It was shown that zirconium and uranium interacted with the iminodiacetate groups of the adsorbent in the course of adsorption; the adsorption of elements from 10^?3 to 10^?2 M complexant solutions (except for tartaric and oxalic acids and EDTA) under the optimum conditions was enhanced as compared to their adsorption from pure solutions; complexation with Arsenazo M in the solid phase proceeded at a higher acidity than in the solution. When the elements were present simultaneously, their total concentration and individual thorium could be determined from malonic acid solutions with Arsenazo M by varying the concentration of acid and the adsorption pH.     

Solid phase extraction and preconcentration of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) on Duolite XAD761 prior to their inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric determination

A simple and effective method is presented for the separation and preconcentration of thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) by solid phase extraction on Duolite XAD761 adsorption resin. Thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) 9-phenyl-3-fluorone chelates are formed and adsorbed onto the Duolite XAD761. Thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) are quantitatively eluted with 2 mol L⁻¹ HCl and determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The influences of analytical parameters including pH, amount of reagents, amount of Duolite XAD761 and sample volume, etc. were investigated on the recovery of analyte ions. The interference of a large number of anions and cations has been studied and the optimized conditions developed have been utilized for the trace determination of uranium and thorium. A preconcentration factor of 30 for uranium and thorium was achieved. The relative standard deviation (N = 10) was 2.3% for uranium and 4.5% for thorium ions for 10 replicate determinations in the solution containing 0.5 μg of uranium and thorium. The three sigma detection limits (N = 15) for thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) ions were found to be 4.5 and 6.3 ng L⁻¹, respectively. The developed solid phase extraction method was successively utilized for the determination of traces thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) in environmental samples by ICP-MS.     

Spectrophotometric determination of zirconium, uranium, thorium and rare earths with arsenazo III after extractions with thenoyltrifluoroacetone and tri-n-octylamine

A method is described for the spectrophotometric determination of microgram amounts of zirconium, uranium(VI), thorium and rare earths with Arsenazo III after systematic separation by extraction. First zirconium is extracted into a xylene solution of thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) from about 4M hydrochloric acid. Uranium(VI) is then extracted into a xylene solution of tri-n-octy lamine from about 4M hydrochloric acid. Thorium is next extracted into TTA solution at pH about 1.5, and finally rare earths are extracted into TTA solution at pH about 4.7. Each metal is back-extracted from the organic phase before determination.     

Sorption of uranium and thorium from sulphuric acid using TVEX-PHOR resin

Summary Solid-liquid extraction has been used to study the uptake of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) from sulphuric acid using a TVEX-PHOR resin. The experimental results were found to fit the BET isotherm and show a higher affinity of the TVEX-PHOR resin towards the extraction of uranium than thorium under similar experimental conditions. The best separation of uranium from thorium is obtained from 3M sulphuric acid at V/m ratio of 20 ml/g. Elution of loaded uranium and thorium was carried out with 1M sodium carbonate and 0.075M sulphuric acid, respectively. After the elution of both elements, the regenerated resin could be reused with high efficiency.     

Determination of optimum process conditions for solvent extraction of thorium using Taguchi method

Solvent extraction of thorium was studied using Taguchi method. The effect of various parameters such as acid types (sulfuric, nitric, hydrochloric, sulfuric + nitric) and their concentrations from 0.001 to 4 M, initial thorium concentration (0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 M) and solvent type (TBP, D₂EHPA, Cyanex921, Cyanex272) in the ranges of 0.001 to 1 M on thorium extraction efficiency were investigated. The maximum extraction of thorium was obtained while 0.001 M hydrochloric acid, 0.001 or 0.01 M thorium and Cyanex272 were used. Under these optimum conditions, the extraction percent and distribution coefficient of thorium were 98.7% and 73.8, respectively. Compared with the hydrochloric aqueous solution, the nitric acid system showed less variation in the extraction of thorium. The proposed process has been applied for the separation of Th(IV), U(VI), La(III), and Ce(III) from synthetic solution same as thorium ores (monazite).     

Extraction studies of uranium into a third-phase of thorium nitrate employing tributyl phosphate and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-dihexyl octanamide as extractants in different diluents

Extraction behavior of 1 × 10⁻²–0.1 M U(VI) from aqueous phases containing 0.86 M Th(IV) at 4 M HNO₃ in 1.1 M tributyl phosphate (TBP) and 1.1 M N,N-dihexyl octanamide (DHOA) solutions in different diluents viz. n-dodecane, 10% 1-octanol + n-dodecane, and decahydronaphthalene (decalin) was studied. Third-phase formation was observed in both the extractants using n-dodecane as diluent. There was a gradual decrease in Th(IV) concentration in the third-phase (heavy organic phase, HOP) with increased aqueous U(VI) concentration [0.71 M (no U(VI))–0.61 M (0.1 M U(VI)) for TBP; 0.27 M (no U(VI))–0.22 M (0.1 M U(VI)) for DHOA]. The HOP volume in case of DHOA was ~2.2 times of that of TBP. Uranium concentration in HOP increased with its initial concentration in the aqueous phase [from 1.8 × 10⁻² M (0.01 M U(VI))–0.162 M (0.1 M U(VI)) for TBP; from 1.4 × 10⁻² M (0.01 M U(VI))–0.14 M (0.1 M U(VI)) for DHOA] suggesting that Th(IV) was being replaced by U(VI). An empirical correlation was developed for predicting the concentrations of uranium and thorium in HOP for both the extractants. No third-phase appeared during the extraction of uranium and thorium from the aqueous phases employing 10% 1-octanol + n-dodecane, or decalin as diluents, and therefore, were better choices as diluent for alleviating the third-phase formation during the reprocessing of spent thorium based fuels, and for the recovery of thorium from high-level waste solutions.     

Organophosphinic,phosphonic acids and their binary mixtures as extractants for molybdenum(VI) and uranium(VI) from aqueous HCl media

Extraction studies of uranium(VI) and molybdenum(VI) with organophosphoric, phosphinic acid and its thiosubstituted derivatives have been carried out from 0.1–1.0M HCl solutions. The extracted species are proposed to be UO₂R₂ and MoO₂ CIR on the basis of slope analysis for uranium(VI) and molybdenum(VI), respectively. The extraction efficiencies of PC-88A, Cyanex 272, Cyanex 301 and Cyanex 302 in the extraction of molybdenum(VI) and uranium(VI) are compared. Synergistic effects have been studied with binary mixtures of extractants. Separation of molybdenum(VI) from uranium(VI) is feasible by Cyanex 301 from 1M HCl, the separation factor log being 2.3.     

Actinide and lanthanide extraction from nitric acid solutions by flotation

Flotation of thorium, plutonium (IV), uranium(VI) and gadolinium from aqueous nitric acid solutions (HNO₃ concentration from 0.01 to 5.0M) was investigated using lauryl phosphoric acid (LPA) as a SAS-collector. It is established that the extent of removal of the metal ions increases with the amount of LPA introduced, regardless of the solution acidity. At a fixed mole LPA to metal ratio the extent of uranium(VI) and gadolinium removal is reduced with increasing acidity, while in case of plutonium(IV) and thorium this parameter remains constant. It is shown that in principle 100% extraction of plutonium(IV) and thorium by flotation is possible regardless of the acidity of aqueous solutions. Ca(NO₃)₂ added to the system in the amount of 0.5M does not significantly affect the flotation extraction of thorium.     

Successive uranium and thorium adsorption from Egyptian monazite by solvent impregnated foam

The present work deals with uranium and thorium recovery from the Egyptian monazite sulfate leach liquor using the extraction chromatography technique (solvent impregnated material), where tributylamine (TBA) and di-n-octylamine (DOA) solvents were impregnated onto foam uranium and thorium separate recovery. The calculated theoretical capacities of the latter solvents were about 1.4 gU/g foam and 1.6 gTh/g foam, respectively. The attained uranium and thorium adsorption efficiencies (using ion-exchange columnar technique) were about 75 and 70% of its theoretical capacities, respectively. Using 1 M NaCl–0.1 M H₂SO₄ and 2 M H₂SO₄ as eluent solutions for uranium and thorium from the loaded solvents impregnated foam gave 95.8 and 98.7% elution efficiencies, respectively.     

Further study of extraction equilibrium of uranium(VI) with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 and its application to separating uranium and thorium

In our publication (1), the extraction of uranium with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (mixed isomers) has been described. The extraction equilibrium of uranium(VI) from aqueous hydrochloric acid solution with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 isomer A (Ia) and isomer B (Ib) in 1,2-dichloroethane is presented in this paper. The extracted species are found to be 1:2 (metal/crown) for Ia and 2:3 for Ib from slope analysis and direct determination of extracted complexes. The extraction equilibrium constants (Kex) have been determined at 25°C, and equal 29.5 for the former and 0.208 for the latter. It is concluded that Ia has stronger coordinate ability for uranium than Ib. The different orientation of the lone pairs of the oxygen atoms in both isomers will be taken into account for interpreting above results. The extraction of uranium(VI) with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (mixed isomers) or Ia from aqueous hydrochloric acid solution is effective and selective. In 0.1M crown ether-1,2-dichloroethane-6N HCl system, the separation factor U(VI)/Th(IV) exceeds 1000. The result can be taken in separating uranium and thorium.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of niobium(V) in the presence of other metals with high molecular mass amines and ascorbic acid

A novel method is proposed for the solvent extraction of niobium(V). A 0.1M solution of Aliquat 336S in xylene quantitatively extracts microgram quantities of niobium(V) from 0.01M ascorbic acid at pH 3.5-6.5. Niobium from the organic phase is stripped with 0.5M nitric acid and determined spectrophotometrically in the aqueous phase as its complex with TAR. The method permits separation of niobium not only from tantalum(V) but also from vanadium(IV), titanium(IV), zirconium(IV), thorium(IV), chromium(III), molybdenum(VI), uranium(VI), iron(III), etc. Niobium from stainless steel was determined with a precision of 0.42%.     

Extraction and separation studies of uranium/VI/with tris-/2-ethyl hexyl/phosphate

A solvent extraction method is proposed for the extraction and separation of uranium from salicylate media using tris-/2-ethyl hexyl/ phosphate dissolved in xylene as an extractant. The optimum conditions were evaluated from a critical study of pH, salicylate concentration, extractant concentration, period of equilibration and diluent. The method permits the separation of uranium from thorium, cerium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, copper, vanadium and chromium from binary mixtures and is applicable to the analysis of uranium in synthetic samples. The method is precise, accurate, fast and selective.     

Successive complexometric determination of thorium and uranium in sulphuric acid media

A selective analytical extraction method for rapid successive complexometric determination of thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) in sulphuric acid media is described. The method is based on the extraction of thorium and uranium from sulphuric acid media with N-butylaniline or N-benzylaniline in chloroform. Both thorium and uranium are selectively and quantitatively extracted in the presence of ascorbic acid and EDTA. Most cations and anions do not interfere. The reduction of uranium(VI) with sodium dithionite at room temperature is rapid and quantitative and superior to that with ascorbic acid, which reduces uranium(VI) in boiling solution. The method is simple, rapid and accurate, and the experimental conditions are not highly critical.     

Extraction and separation of bismuth(III)

Separation of bismuth from beryllium, lead, iron(III), indium, scandium, lanthanum, antimony(III), zirconium, titanium, thorium, vanadium(V), molybdenum(VI), uranium (VI) and chromium(VI) is achieved by selective extraction of bismuth from 0.1M sodium salicylate solution (adjusted to pH 7) into mesityl oxide (MeO). The extracted species is Bi (HOC(6)H(4)COO)(3).3MeO. The results are accurate within +/- 0.5%, with a standard deviation of 0.8%. The separation and determination of bismuth takes only 15 min.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of Th4+ and UO 2 2+ by LIX-26 and its mixtures

Solvent extractions of thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) by a commercially available chelating extractant LIX-26 (an alkylated 8-hydroxyquinoline) or 8-hydroxyquinoline, benzoic or salicylic acid, dipentyl sulphoxide (DPSO) and their mixtures with butanol as modifier in benzene/methylisobutyl ketone (MIBK) as the diluent have been studied. Extraction of uranium(VI) by 10% LIX-26 and 10% butanol in benzene becomes quantitative at pH 5.0. The pH 0.5 values for the extraction of thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) are 4.95 and 3.35, respectively. Quantitative extraction of thorium(IV) by the mixture of 0.1 M oxine and 0.1 M salicylic acid in methylisobutyl ketone was observed at pH 5.0. The influence of concentration of various anions on the extraction of Th⁴⁺ by mixtures of LIX-26 and benzoic acid has been studied. Studies on extraction of thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) by mixtures of LIX-26 (HQ) and DPSO show that the extracted species are possibly of the type [ThQ₂/DPSO/₂/SCN/₂] and [UO₂Q₂/DPSO/], respectively.     

Studies on the extraction and determination of metal salts with isobutyl methyl ketone-XIII Extraction of thorium and uranium

The work deals with the extraction of thorium or uranium from hydrochloric, perchloric, sulphuric or nitric acid solutions of various concentrations, or from mixed acid solutions, by means of isobutyl methyl ketone. When the extraction is made from 5-8M hydrochloric acid that is 10M in lithium chloride or from 7-8M hydrochloric acid that is 1M in magnesium chloride, uranium is extracted quantitatively (>99%), whereas thorium is hardly extracted at all.     

Separation of uranium(VI) as chloride complex by solvent extraction with dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6

Uranium(VI) was quantitatively extracted from 6 to 8M hydrochloric acid with 0.02M DC-18-crown-6 in chloroform. It was stripped from the organic phase with 0.5M hydrochloric acid and determined as its Arsenazo-III complex at 665 nm. Uranium(VI) was separated from several elements such as thorium, zirconium, scandium, yttrium, thallium and tin in complex mixtures. The method was extended for analysis of uranium in monazite and rock sample.