Recent developments in the extraction of uranium contained in phosphoric acid-Urphos bis process
Creators
- 1. Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires (COGEMA), 78 - Velizy-Villacoublay (France)
- 2. Societe Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs (SNPE), 75 - Paris (France)
Description
The Urphos process, patented to Cogema and APC in 1977, permits the extraction of uranium contained in phosphoric acid by the use of only one extraction cycle and without having to modify the uranium valency during the process. In the place of the classical synergic couple of extractive agents (TOPO-DEPA), the di-n-HMOPO and the BIDIBOPP can be used with advantage. The partition ratio of uranium is thereby multiplied by five but that of iron, the main extractive impurity, is multiplied by fifteen to twenty. It is thus necessary to eliminate the greatest part of the iron extracted in order. This result was obtained by a sulpho-phosphoric washing. After laboratory tests a series of pilot tests with 60 litres/h was completed to confirm the performances of this process, which has been named Urphos bis. These pilot tests have shown that the problems of synthesis have been well mastered. 6 figs., 4 refs
Abstract (French)
Le procede Urphos brevete par la Cogema et APC en 1977 permet d'extraire l'uranium contenu dans l'acide phosphorique en utilisant un seul cycle d'extraction, et sans avoir a modifier au cours du procede la valence de l'uranium. A la place du couple synergique classique d'extractants (TOPO-DEPA), on peut avantageusement utiliser le di-n-HMOPO et le BIDIBOPP. Le coefficient de partage de l'uranium est ainsi multiplie par 5, mais celui du fer, principale impurete extractible, est multiplie par 15 a 20. Il faut donc eliminer la plus grande partie du fer extrait. Ce resultat a ete obtenu par un lavage sulfophosphorique. Apres la mise au point, une campagne d'essais pilote a 60 l/h a ete effectuee pour confirmer les performances de ce procede baptise Urphos bis. Ces campagnes pilotes ont montre que les problemes de synthese etaient bien maitrisesAdditional details
Additional titles
- Original title (French)
- Developpements recents sur l'extraction de l'uranium contenu dans l'acide phosphorique procede Urphos bis
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Industrie Minerale, Mines Carrieres, les Techniques
- Journal Volume
- 71
- Journal Issue
- 1
- Series
- Ind. Miner., Mines Carr., Tech.
- Journal Page Range
- 168-179
- ISSN
- 0766-1207
- CODEN
- IMMTE
Conference
- Title
- SIM Congress.
- Dates
- 3-11 Oct 1987.
- Place
- Marrakech (Morocco).
INIS
- Country of Publication
- France
- Country of Input or Organization
- France
- INIS RN
- 20067854
- Subject category
- S11: NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS;
- Resource subtype / Literary indicator
- Conference
- Descriptors DEI
- IMPURITIES; ORGANIC SOLVENTS; PARTITION; PERFORMANCE TESTING; PHOSPHORIC ACID; SOLVENT EXTRACTION; URANIUM
- Descriptors DEC
- ACTINIDES; ELEMENTS; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; INORGANIC ACIDS; INORGANIC COMPOUNDS; METALS; NONAQUEOUS SOLVENTS; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS; SEPARATION PROCESSES; SOLVENTS; TESTING