Extraction of uranium/VI/ with di-2-ethylhexyldithiophosphoric acid in different organic solvents

Solvent extraction of uranium/VI/ from aqueous perchlorate media into cyclohexane, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride solutions of di-2-ethylhexyldithiophosphoric acid /HEhdtp/ was investigated. The treatment of the partition data showed that the extraction occurs via an ion-exchange mechanism similar to that established in benzene. The species extracted in the oxygen-free noncoordinating solvents mentioned are 12 complexes of uranyl ion with phosphorodithioato group. The high distribution ratio obtained is due to the long and branched alkyl chain /2-ethylhexyl/ of phosphorodithioato ligand, which increases the solubility of the uranium/VI/ chelate in the organic phase and decreases considerably its solubility in the aqueous phase.