Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.37, No.5, 1983-1990, 1998
Recovery of uranium from phosphoric acid solutions using chelating ion-exchange resins
Experimental measurements have been made on the batch extraction of uranium from phosphoric acid solutions using various chelating ion-exchange resins (RSPO, Diaion-CRP200, Diphonix, Purolite S940, Duolite ES467, and Lewatit OC 1060) and a solvent containing ion-exchange resins (Actinide-CU). The kinetic performance of ion-exchange resins was compared, and the effect of Fe(II) and Ca(II) ions on the sorption and elution performance has also been examined. The results showed that the resin Actinide-CU containing a diphosphonate extractant was very effective for removing uranium from phosphoric acid solution. However, the elution performance of this resin with both acid and carbonate eluants was poor. It is concluded that the chelating resins Diphonix, Duolite ES467, Lewatit OC 1060, and Purolite S940 give reasonable sorption of uranium in the presence of Fe(II) ions in batch sorption trials. The desorption of uranium has been performed quantitatively using carbonate eluants. Purolite S940 was used in small-scale column extractions of uranium from phosphoric acid solutions, and promising loading/elution profiles were obtained.