Coupled cationic and anionic method of separating uranium

Uranium is separated from contaminating metal ions in an aqueous feed liquor containing the uranyl ion. The liquor is extracted with a first, noninterfering, water-immiscible, organic solvent containing a reagent which reacts with the uranyl ion to form a complex soluble in the organic solvent. The organic solvent is scrubbed with water if necessary, then stripped with a stripping liquor of an aqueous sulfuric acid liquor having a pH of about 0.5 to about 6 containing a reducing ion or an aqueous carbonate solution having a pH of about 8 to about 9. If the sulfuric acid liquor is used the stripped uranous ion is oxidized and the sulfuric acid liquor is diluted to prevent the precipitation of a uranium complex. The stripping liquor is extracted with an amine liquor comprising a second, noninterfering, water-immiscible, organic solvent and a tertiary or quaternary amine. The amine liquor is stripped with an ammonium carbonate solution to precipitate a uranium complex. The uranium complex is filtered off and may be calcined to produce U3O8 or UO2. 38 claims, 1 figure