Recovery of uranium from wet-process phosphoric acid by extraction with D2EHPA-DBBP

A synergistic extractant combination consisting of di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and dibutyl butyl phosphonate (DBBP) in kerosene is employed in a two-cycle separation process for the recovery of uranium from wet-process phosphoric acid. The addition of the sulfuric acid and water scrubbing steps for the recycled extractant eliminates the contamination and dilution of the phosphoric acid by the ammonium ion and water and also no precipitation occurs in the second cycle extraction step. The amount of ferrous iron used in the stripping unit of the first concentration cycle can be reduced to a great extent when the dissolved oxygen in the organic extractant is removed with inert gas purging. The advantages of this process are lower chemical cost, higher product purity and better phase separation in comparison with the previous process