Solvent extraction kinetics of uranium and molybdenum

Solvent extraction with Alamin 336 is an established method for the recovery and purification of uranium. The presence of molybdenum in the leach solution creates problems, because extraction of uranium with Alamin 336 also co-extracts molybdenum. The kinetics of the solvent extraction of uranium and molybdenum was studied to determine the magnitude of extraction rates which possibly could be used for improving the purification process. The design of a proper continuous system depends largely on the extraction rates of uranium and molybdenum and whether the amount of molybdenum is sufficient to make an economical recovery operation. The recovery of uranium and molybden is not governed by the extraction rate of molybdenum which is on the whole equally rapid. The applied technique is the drop method in which organic drops rise and aqueous drops fall through a column of opposite phase. Separation co-extracted metals is feasible by selective stripping or by extracting molybdenum with Aliquat 336 from the carbonate strip solution. (author). 6 refs.; 1 fig.; 1 tab