EFFECT OF ORGANIC DILUENTS ON THE EXTRACTION OF URANIUM FROM PHOSPHORIC-ACID

Phosphoorganic solvents such as OPPA, DEPA/TOPO and OPAP are commonly used to extract uranium from wet phosphoric acid. They are used in con centrations between 1-10% wt/wt in organic diluents. These inert organ ic substances serve to dilute the solvent, decrease its viscosity and secure a greater contact between the acid and the solvent. The diluent s should also be cheap, readily available, immiscible with water and v olatile at the temperature of the extraction which is from 30-50 degre es C. They should not reduce the extraction coefficient of the solvent and separate well at the temperature of separation as an organic phas e. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of various org anic diluents in order to select the most suitable one. It is establis hed that paraffinic diluents are better than aromatic ones. Since kero sene is cheap, available and not very volatile at the temperature of e xtraction, it is commonly used in extraction. However, the kerosene us ed should be treated to reduce the aromatic content to a minimum.