RECOVERY PROCESS FOR URANIUM FROM WET PROCESS PHOSPHORIC ACID SUPPLY SOLUSION CONTAINING SLUDGE FORMING CONTAMINATED SUBSTANCES

摘要

Recovery of U from wet-process H3PO4 solns. is affected by (a) washing the soln. with a hydrocarbon having a b. pt. of 150-300 degrees C (pref. kerosene) to remove sludge-forming components; (b) separating the resulting sludge phase from the purified H3PO4 soln; and (c) extracting U from the H3PO4 soln. The hydrocarbon wash treatment prevents sludge formation during ext. without the high maintenance costs associated with the use of conventional filters. The kerosene/H3PO4 vol. ratio during step (a) is pref. 1-3:1. The sludge phase is pref. decanted off and filtered to recover kerosene for recycle to the next washing operation.