The Influence of Extractant Structure on the Solvent Extraction of Uranium(VI) and Thorium(IV) from Nitrate Media by Dialkyl Sulphoxides

The solvent extraction of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) from sodium nitrate solutions (0·20–6·00 M ) by a series of dialkyl sulphoxides with different structures was studied. For sulphoxides with n-alkyl groups (R₂SO, where R = n-hexyl, n-octyl and n-decyl) using 0·20 M solutions in xylene, the extractions of both uranium and thorium are relatively high, and the values of the separation factor β_Th^U are correspondingly low (≈20). Replacement of an n-hexyl group by a cyclohexyl group has little effect on metal extraction, whilst the introduction of a second cyclohexyl group causes a slight decrease in extraction. Similarly, there is little variation in the extraction of uranium and thorium through the series of asymmetrical compounds RR′SO, where R = n-octyl and R′ = cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or cyclooctyl. When two aromatic (phenyl) rings are introduced into the sulphoxide, however, the extraction of both metals falls to zero. For the series of isomeric compounds R₂SO with C₈ alkyl groups, the separation factors increase in the order: R = n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, 2-octyl, 3-octyl, which is also the order of increasing steric bulk of the alkyl group. For these compounds, slope analysis studies are consistent with the formulation of the extracted metal complexes as UO₂(NO₃)₂(R₂SO)₂ and Th(NO₃)₄(R₂SO)₃. © 1997 SCI.     

Combined Extraction of Cesium and Strontium from Alkaline Nitrate Solutions

Abstract

The combined extraction of cesium and strontium from caustic wastes can be achieved by adding a crown ether and a carboxylic acid to the Caustic‐Side Solvent Extraction (CSSX) solvent. The ligand 4,4′(5′)‐di(tert‐butyl)cyclohexano‐18‐crown‐6 and one of four different carboxylic acids were combined with the components of the CSSX solvent optimized for the extraction of cesium, allowing for the simultaneous extraction of cesium and strontium from alkaline nitrate media simulating alkaline high level wastes present at the U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Site. Extraction and stripping experiments were conducted independently and exhibited adequate results for mimicking waste simulant processing through batch contacts. The promising results of these batch tests showed that the system could reasonably be tested on actual waste.     

Note: Effect of Temperature in the Extraction of Uranium and Plutonium by Triisoamyl Phosphate

Abstract

The extraction of uranium(VI) by triisoamyl phosphate (TiAP) has been studied to derive the thermodynamic parameters such as entropy change and the free-energy change. The extraction of U(VI) and Pu(IV) has also been studied with 1.1 M solutions of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP), tri-n-amyl phosphate (TAP), and TiAP as a function of temperature. While the enthalpy of U(VI) extraction was found to be exothermic, the enthalpy for the extraction of Pu(IV) was always found to be endothermic. The temperature at which the distribution ratios of U(VI) and Pu(IV) cross each other (the temperature of inversion) has been derived for TBP, TAP, and TiAP, and the results reveal the lowest temperature of inversion occurs for TiAP. The results indicate the advantage of TiAP as an extractant in avoiding plutonium reflux during the PUREX process involving high plutonium feed solutions, in addition to lower aqueous solubility, freedom from the third-phase formation problem, lower degradation, and better economics.     

Separation of U(VI) and Pu(IV) from Am(III) and Trivalent Lanthanides with Tri-iso-amyl Phosphate (TiAP) as the Extractant by Using an Ejector Mixer-Settler

Counter-current solvent extraction runs have been carried out to develop a suitable flow sheet for fast reactor fuel reprocessing with 1.1M Tri-iso-amyl Phosphate (TiAP)/Heavy Normal Paraffin (HNP) as the solvent by using an ejector mixer-settler facility. A spent solvent of 1.1M TiAP/HNP used for earlier runs has been employed in the present study after the regeneration. Separation of U(VI) and Pu(IV) from Am(III) and lanthanides such as La(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), and Eu(III) as fission product representatives with the above solvent has been investigated with an optimized flow sheet. Stage profile data generated for the extraction and strip runs for the above separation have been reported. Overall and stage-wise mass balance data for the above runs are also discussed.     

磷酸三丁酯（TBP）从氯介质中萃取锌的研究

本文研究了磷酸三丁酯(tBP)从氯介质中萃取分离锌的行为和反应的机理,探讨了各种氯盐对锌萃取率的影响。实验表明盐析效应随金属离子的电荷密度的增大而增强。实验中还发现TBP从稀盐酸溶液中萃取的能力比从各种氯盐溶液的锌萃取率大得多,这是由于当溶液中的酸度达到一定值后([HCI]>0.1mol/l),溶液中形成可萃取的锌的络酸形式络合物HZnCl_3或H_2ZnCl_4等。TBP从氯介质中萃取锌的反应属中性络合萃取机理。     

Extraction of Uranium(VI) and Plutonium(IV) with Tetra-Alkylcarbamides

ABSTRACT

The use of tetra-alkylcarbamides as novel extractants for the separation of uranium(VI) and plutonium(IV) by solvent extraction from spent nuclear fuels is investigated in this study. Batch extraction experiments show that tetra-alkylcarbamides strongly extract U(VI) with high distribution ratios. Plutonium(IV) can be co-extracted with U(VI) at high nitric acid concentration, while high U(VI)/Pu(IV) selectivities can be reached at lower acidity. Loading capacity experiments with high uranium concentrations show that alkyl chains longer than butyl are necessary to avoid third phase formation. Nevertheless, the viscosity of uranium-loaded solvents gets too high with alkyl chains longer than pentyl. Overall, this study shows that with TPU extractant (with four pentyl chains), an efficient co-extraction of uranium and plutonium can be reached (D_U,Pu > 1) for a concentration of nitric acid higher than 4 mol?L^?1, while the partition between uranium(VI) and plutonium(IV) could be operated even at 2 mol?L^?1 nitric acid without redox chemistry.     

磷酸三丁酯和二异丙醚溶剂萃取体系脱除湿法磷酸中氟的研究

以磷酸三丁酯与二异丙醚为溶剂,采用溶剂萃取法脱除湿法磷酸中的氟。研究了萃取剂中TBP的体积分率、相比、萃取时间、搅拌转速、反萃剂加入量对氟的净化效果的影响,确定了磷酸三丁酯与二异丙醚混合溶剂体系脱氟的工艺条件。结果表明:萃取剂组成为TBP与二异丙醚体积比为1∶1;相比4∶1、萃取时间为5min、搅拌转速为300r/min、反萃剂加入量为萃取相体积的10%,在此条件下,磷酸三丁酯与二异丙醚萃取体系对氟离子有较好的分离能力。     

TBP-煤油/H2SO4-Ti(IV)萃取沉淀法制备纳米TiO2及其光催化活性

以TBP（磷酸三丁酯）为萃取剂，在TBP－煤油／H2SO4－Ti(IV)体系中萃取Ti(IV),然后将萃取体系的负载中相作为原料液，用氨水沉淀制备纳米TiO2粉末，并对其进行了TEM，XRD表征，以次甲基蓝的光催化氧化作为目标反应来评价TiO2的光催化活性，考察了制备过程中氨水的加入顺序以及焙烧条件对其光催化活性的影响。TEM表征结果表明制备的TiO2粒子分散均匀，粒径在20nm左右。XRD测试结果说明样品焙烧温度在550－800℃范围保持锐钛矿晶型。以制备的锐钛矿晶型样品为光催化剂进行次甲基蓝的光催化降解反应，光照25min，脱色率可达到98％，COD去除率可达70％左右。     

Selective Separation of Gallium from Acidic Leach Solutions by Emulsion Liquid Membranes

Abstract

The separation and concentration of gallium from acidic leach solutions, containing various other ions such as iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc, cadmium, lead, copper, and aluminium, by an emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) technique using tributyl phosphate (TBP) as carrier has been presented. Liquid membrane consists of a diluent, a surfactant (ECA 4360J), and an extractant (TBP), and 0.1 M HCl or 0.1 M H₂SO₄ were used as the stripping solution. The important variables governing the permeation of gallium and their effect on the separation process have been studied. These variables were membrane type and composition, mixing speed, diluent type, surfactant concentration, extractant concentration, HCl concentration in the feed, acid type of stripping phase, feed concentration, and treatment ratio. The optimum conditions were determined. It was possible to selectively extract 96.0% of gallium from the acidic leach solutions, containing Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Al, at the optimum conditions.     

Palladium Extraction by a Malonamide Derivative (DMDOHEMA) from Nitrate Media: Extraction Behavior and Third Phase Characterization

Liquid-liquid extraction of palladium(II) from nitric media was carried out using, N,N’–dimethyl,N,N’-dioctylhexylethoxymalonamide (DMDOHEMA) in n-heptane. To this purpose, various experimental parameters such as reaction time, extractant concentration, pH, and nitrate concentration were investigated in detail. Efficient extraction of palladium can then be achieved, with good distribution coefficients (D up to 10) and performing kinetics (equilibration time ca. 30 min). In some cases, a solid phase appears at the interface between aqueous and organic layers. It was characterized as a palladium(II) complex with DMDOHEMA with appropriate techniques, and the conditions of its formation are discussed.     

Studies on the Development of a Flow-Sheet for AHWR Spent Fuel Reprocessing Using TBP

The present paper describes the results of solvent extraction studies carried out in batch mode to collect data on distribution of uranium, plutonium, and thorium using 5% TBP in n-dodecane. Extraction studies are carried out from feed solutions having bulk thorium containing aluminum and fluoride ions in ～3.00–4.00 M nitric acid at concentration levels anticipated in feed solutions during Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) spent fuel reprocessing. Studies are carried out under varied experimental conditions. Parameters such as organic to aqueous phase ratio during extraction, concentration of nitric acid for scrubbing co-extracted thorium from loaded organic phase etc., are studied in detail. Hydroxylamine nitrate is selected for reductive stripping of plutonium in preliminary studies. Reagent mixture containing 0.30 M HAN + 0.60 M HNO₃ and 0.20 M N₂H₄ is found to be optimum for plutonium partitioning. This paper also describes the extraction and stripping of uranium and plutonium in co-current mode. The extraction behavior of relevant fission products is studied from a simulated feed solution. A preliminary study on a few commercially available reducing agents is also included. These data are useful in developing a flow-scheme for the recovery of uranium and plutonium from spent fuel originating from AHWR.     

超声波提取蔬菜中硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐的研究

利用超声波提取蔬菜中硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐,研究了超声提取时间、温度、频率、功率对提取效果的影响.首先确定提取频率采用40kHz的超声波,然后采用三因子的正交旋转组合计划由回归方程极大值处的变量取值,响应值确定超声提取的最优提取条件为:提取温度62℃,提取功率60%,提取时间5min.验证试验中由回归方程得出的预测值与观察值很接近,实验误差小于5%.因此,用所得回归方程预测三因素对提取量的影响是有意义的.     

Rh(III) Extraction by Phosphinic Acids from Nitrate Media

The demand for platinum group metals (PGMs), such as rhodium, continues to rise at a rate that could exceed current mining yields. An alternative source for rhodium is present in spent nuclear fuel as a fission product. This work examines the use of phosphinic acids, diphenylphosphinic acid (DPPA), and diphenyldithiophosphinic (DPDTPA) acid, to extract Rh(III) from nitrate media. The results suggest that extraction of Rh(III) using DPPA and DPDTPA is non-spontaneous at room temperature. Lowering the pH and/or increasing the nitrate ion concentration in solution suppressed extraction.     

Separation and Recovery of Cadmium from Acidic Leach Liquors of Spent Ni-Cd Batteries using Molten Paraffin Wax Solvent Extraction

Separation and recovery of cadmium from sulphate leach liquors of spent Ni-Cd batteries using TBP, HDEHP (D2EHPA), EHEHPA (PC 88A or Ionquest 801 or P507) have been investigated in a laboratory scale. Cadmium can be extracted into paraffin waxes from acidic solutions in the temperature range of 55–75°C using different extractants. The influence of various parameters on extraction and stripping were studied in detail. The feasibility of separation of cadmium from nickel using these extractants and their combination was studied. The mixture extractant of EHEHPA and TBP was found to be the best for the separation of Cd and Ni. A three-stage counter-current extraction simulation test for cadmium extraction was carried out at an A/O phase ratio of 4:1 and pH 2.5. More than 99.97% Cd²⁺ was extracted with the organic phase containing 0.7 mol L^?1 EHEHPA and 0.5 mol L^?1 TBP, while more than 99.97% nickel was left in the raffinate. The cadmium loaded organic phase was stripped with 2 mol L^?1 hydrochloric acid in the stripping stage. The present method can be applied to the separation and recovery of cadmium from acidic leach liquor of spent Ni-Cd batteries or related waste liquor.     

Thermodynamics of Cesium Extraction from Acidic Media by HCCD and PEG

Abstract

In this study, details of cesium extraction from nitrate media using chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide (HCCD) dissolved in the polar phenyl trifluoromethyl sulfone (FS-13) diluent have been examined. It has been verified that Cs⁺ phase transfer is based solely on cation exchange (H⁺ for Cs⁺) that is, that a previously reported nitrate dependency arises from nonideal behavior of solute species. The enthalpy and entropy of the system calculated using appropriate corrections to the van't Hoff analysis are found to be in good agreement with independently measured calorimetry results. Finally, it is demonstrated that synergistic extraction of Cs⁺ by HCCD and PEG does not occur. Although there is a definite interaction between HCCD and PEG (and it is well established that this interaction is responsible for the extraction of Sr²⁺), this association is actually antagonistic to the extraction of Cs⁺.     

Comprehensive Studies on Third Phase Formation: Application to U(VI)/Th(IV) Mixtures Extracted by TBP in N-dodecane

ABSTRACT

Phase splitting of tributylphosphate (TBP)/n-dodecane organic phases resulting from the extraction of UO₂(NO₃)₂, Th(NO₃)₄ and mixtures of both actinides from aqueous nitrate solutions has been investigated. Limiting organic concentrations (LOC) and metals distribution beyond third phase formation have been determined, with comparison between the cases of single metal-systems and metals mixtures. Simultaneous quantification of TBP and both metals was achieved through X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses. LOC studies reveal that thorium (IV) drives the third phase formation as it is the most destabilizing element in the solvent. After organic phase splitting, studies of the distributions of metals between the heavy organic phase (HOP) and the diluted organic phase (DOP) in the case of U^(VI)/Th^(IV) mixtures revealed that they are similar to those observed when both metals are alone in the solvent: Thorium (IV) has a strong affinity for the HOP, whereas uranium (VI) distributes both in HOP and in DOP. A supersaturation coefficient (N_LOC) is proposed as a new tool to account for the data obtained in the present study. Furthermore, the approach was successfully applied to analyse available data in the literature regarding thorium (IV) distribution studies after phase splitting in various TBP-alkane solvents. Such a study beyond third phase formation paves the way for studying the mechanism involved in third phase formation, as the metal is clearly identified as the key parameter.     

Studies on the Extraction of Actinides by Diamylamyl Phosphonate

Abstract

Diamylamyl phosphonate (DAAP) was synthesised by the Michealis Becker reaction, and was characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and ³¹P NMR. The extraction of U(VI), Th(IV), Pu(IV) and Am(III) by 1.1 M DAAP in n‐dodecane as a function of nitric acid concentration was studied and the results are compared with the extraction behavior of these ions by tributyl phosphate (TBP) and triamyl phosphate (TAP) in n‐dodecane. Some important physical properties of the extractant that have to be met for its use in industrial scale liquid‐liquid extraction such as density, surface tension, viscosity and phase disengagement time with 1.1 M DAAP/n‐dodecane have been measured and compared with those of 1.1 M TBP/n‐dodecane. Studies on the third phase formation behavior of DAAP/n‐dodecane with U(VI) and Th(IV) nitrates in nitric acid medium have been carried out and the results are reported. The breakthrough and elution behavior of U(VI) using a column packed with 50% (w/w) DAAP impregnated on Amberlite XAD‐7 was studied and reported.     

预分散溶剂萃取分离苯酚溶液的研究

Predispersed solvent extraction (PDSE) is a new method for separating solutes from aqueous solution by solvent extraction and one which has shown promise for extraction from extremely dilute solution very efficient and very quick. The use of colloidal liquid aphrons in predispersed solvent extraction may ameliorate the problems such as emulsion formation, reduction of interracial mass transfer and low interfacial mass transfer areas in solvent extraction process. In present paper, colloidal liquid aphrons are successfully generated using kerosene as a solvent,tributyl phosphate(TBP) as an extractant, sodium dodecyl benzene sulphate(SDBS) as surfactant in aqueous phase and Tween-80 in oil phase. Extraction of phenol from dilute solution was studied by using colloidal liquid aphrons and colloidal gas aphrons in a semi-batch extraction column. It has been found that the PDSE process is more suitable for extraction of dilute solutions. It has also been discovered that the PDSE process has a great advantage over traditional single-stage extraction process.