Extraction of uranium(VI) with non-plasticized and TBP-plasticized polyurethane foam sorbents loaded with dibenzoylmethane

Studies have shown that plots of the log of the distribution ratio versus pH for the distribution of uranium(VI) between non-plasticized and TBP-plasticized dibenzoylmethane-loaded polyurethane foams and dilute aqueous uranium(VI) solutions have a limiting slope of 0.6 at equilibrium pH values 4 and reach a maximum distribution constant at about pH 6.0. The results indicate that the extracted complex is a simple chelate, UO₂Me₂, where HMe denotes dibenzoylmethane. Plasticization of the foam with TBP has been found to significantly enhance the rate of extraction.