Thermodynamics of uranium extraction from nitric acid solution by TBP loaded on inert supporting material

Thermodynamic investigation of the extraction of both uranium(VI) and uranium(IV) from nitric acid solutions using tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) loaded on polyacrylic acid polymer (SM-7) as an inert supporting material has been done using batch technique. The effect of temperature on the equilibrium extraction values has been utilized to evaluate the change in standard thermodynamic quantities (viz. DeltaH, DeltaS, and DeltaG). The Freundlich isotherm was successfully applied to the extraction data of both metal ions. The Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm was found to be valid only in case of U(IV) extraction. Based on the D-R expression, the maximum extraction capacity of loaded TBP and the mean free energy of U(IV) extraction have been determined.