Studies on Third Phase Formation in the Extraction of Th(NO3)4 by Tri-iso-amyl Phosphate in n-alkane Diluents

Third phase formation in the extraction of Th(NO3)(4) from its solution with near-zero free acidity by 1.1M solutions of tri-iso-amyl phosphate (TiAP) in n-dodecane, n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane, and n-octadecane has been investigated as a function of equilibrium aqueous phase Th(IV) concentration at 303K. Distribution of Th(NO3)(4) between organic and aqueous phases as well as the variation of densities of organic phases in biphasic and triphasic regions for its extraction by the above-mentioned solvents have been investigated with respect to equilibrium aqueous phase Th(IV) concentration under the above experimental conditions. Data on the ratio of volume of the diluent-rich phase to that of third phase for various TiAP/n-alkane-Th(NO3)(4)-303K systems have also been generated in the present study. The results obtained are compared with literature data available for tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and tri-n-amyl phosphate (TAP) systems which were experimented under identical conditions.