Uranium extraction enhancement form phosphoric acid by emulsion liquid membrane

Abstract

This work is mainly concerned with the uranium extraction from phosphoric acid commercially produced by Abu Zaabal Fertilizers and Chemical Co., Egypt. This target would realize a dual purpose where the phosphate ore is considered as an alternative source of uranium besides eliminating its environmental contamination. The applied procedures are that of the new technology of emulsion liquid membrane. Authors have indeed pointed out that the variables explored still leave open to question the roles of stripping at the internal interface as well as the bulk transfer of uranium in the internal phase. For this purpose, two reducing agents are studied as additives to two organic solvent systems; namely the organophosphorous synergistic mixture of D2EHPA/TOPO as well as the tridodecyl amine. The relevant factors have first been optimized upon synthetic uraniferous phosphoric acid solution followed by the application upon the commercial acid after purification. These factors include the concentration of solvent system and the used emulsifier, acid concentration of the external and internal phases besides the nature and concentration of the reductant added to the internal phase. In addition, the permeation time as well as the oxidation state of the external phase was studied. All these factors have indeed been studied under different mixing speeds ranging from 300 up to 1,000 rpm. Ascorbic acid concentration, 1 % as an additive to the internal phosphoric acid phase (40 % P2O5) resulted in 95 % uranium extraction efficiency at the lower speed of 600 rpm.