Selective extraction of metals from acidic uranium (VI) solutions using neo-tridecano-hydroxamic acid

• US 3,900,551 A
• Filed: 03/02/1972
• Issued: 08/19/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Franco Bardoncelli, Giuseppe Grossi
• Original Assignee: Franco Bardoncelli, Giuseppe Grossi
• Inventors: Grossi, Giuseppe, Bardoncelli, Franco
• Primary Examiner(s): Monacell, A. Louis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Emery, S. J.
• Application Number:
  US05/231,377
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 23/312ME 260/5.5H 423/9,20,63,70,81,253,139
• US Class Current: 423/9
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 3/32 Carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 60/026 liquid-liquid extraction with or without dissolution in organic solvents
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 19/46 Aqueous processes , e.g. by using organic extraction means, including the regeneration of these means
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/125 by solvent extraction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/50 Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies

Abstract

According to this invention neo-alkyl-hydroxamic acids are employed as ion-exchanging agents in processes for liquid-liquid extraction with the aim of separating, purifying dissolved metals and of converting a metal salt solution into a solution of a salt of the same metal but with different anion. In particular it is an object of this invention to provide a method whereby a molecular pure uranium solution is obtained by selective extraction from a uranium solution delivered by irradiated fuel reprocessing plants and containing plutonium, fission products and other unwanted metals, in which method neo-tridecanehydroxamic acid is employed as ion exchanger.

Claims

1. A PROCESS FOR PURIFYING URANIUM FROM PU(IV), NP(IV), ZR(IV), NB(V), FE(III), TI(IV), V(V), HF(IV), TA(V), PO(IV), COMPRISING PREPARING AN U(VI) AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING SAID IONS AND ACID BY STRONG INORGANIC ACIDS AT A CONCENTRATION IN THE RANGE FROM 0.1 TO 5 M:

REMOVING FROM SAID SOLUTION ALL THE NITROUS ACID THEREIN CONTAINED BY ADDING A NITROUS ACID SUPPRESSOR SELECTED FROM UREA, HYDRAZINE OR HYDROXYLAMINE, CONTACTING SAID ACID OLUTION WITH A LIQUID ORGANIC PHASE COMPRISIN A WATEIMISCIBLE ORGANIC SOLVENT AND NEOTRIDECANO-HYDROXAMIC ACID TO EXTRACT SAID METAL IONS INTO THE ORGANIC PHASE, AND SEPARATING THE RESULTANT ORGANIC PHASE INTO WHICH SAID ELEMENTS ARE TRANSFERRED FROM THE AQUEOUS PHASE IN WHICH THE PURIFIED URANIUM IS LEFT.

2. A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said metals are Pu(IV), Np(IV), Zr(IV), Nb(V) and Fe(III) at trace amounts, said concentration of U(VI) in aqueous solution is in the range from 0.5 M to 0.7 M, said strong inorganic acid is nitric in the concentration of 3 to 5 M and said liquid organic phase is a 0.1 M solution of neo-tridecano-hydroxamic acid in an aromatic hydrocarbon.