Single drop column technique for kinetic extraction of selected ions of nuclear interest

The present work is aimed to: (i) assess the extraction kinetics of hexavalent uranium from phosphoric acid solution by HDEHP-Cyanex-921 mixture, and (ii) the extraction kinetics of hexavalent uranium and thorium from nitric acid solution by TBP or Cyanex-921.The concentration of uranium and thorium are taken as comparable to their concentrations in leach solution obtained from the Egyptian monazite sand. The mass transfer of the extracted species in the organic phase using the single drop column technique was investigated in terms of the different parameters affecting the extraction kinetics of both elements. Such parameters include the effect of metal ions and acid concentrations in the aqueous phase, the flow rate and the volume of the rising organic drops. The extraction rate equation for each of the investigated ions have been deduced and discussed. (authors)