Extraction and separation of uranium (IV) and certain light lanthanides from concentrated phosphoric acid solutions using octyl phenyl acid phosphate

Liquid-liquid extraction of light lanthanides (La(III) and Nd(III)) from 5.0 M phosphoric acid and U(IV) from 8.0 M phosphoric acid by Octyl Phenyl Acid Phosphate (OPAP) in benzene and kerosene at ratio 1:4, respectively, has been studied. The effects of several parameters such as shaking time, concentration of extractant, hydrogen ion concentration, phosphoric acid concentration, metal ions concentration and loading capacity were separately investigated. The stoichiometry of the extracted species is deduced using the slope analysis method (Kislik [1]). Evaluation of extraction equilibrium, stripping and separation feasibility has been investigated as well as regeneration processes. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.