A study of solvent extraction of uranium and thorium with a crown either carboxylic acid

The solvent extraction of uranium and thorium with a new type of extractant sym-dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxyacetic acid in chloroform has been studied. The extraction efficiencies for both elements depend strongly on pH. At pH 3.5, UO22+ is not extractable, whereas Th4+ is extracted with greater than 98% efficiency. The dependence of the distribution ratios of UO22+ and Th4+ on the concentration of sym-dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxyacetic acid are linear and the slopes are 1 and 2 respectively. The results suggest that uranium and thorium appear to form a 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 extraction complex with ligand. A new method for separating U and Th is established, and U and Th with high purity can be obtained. This method have important application to analytical chemistry and nuclear industry. (8 refs., 3 figs.)