Recovery of uranium from residue generated during Mo-99 production, using organic solvent extraction

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2019Source: Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/CAuthor(s): Naomi D. Mokhine, Manny Mathuthu, Elizabeth StassenAbstractDuring the production of the medical isotope Mo-99, the uranium and some fission products are precipitated as residue of mixed hydrated oxides. However, the PUREX extraction of uranium, plutonium is extracted, raising proliferation issues. The aim of this research was to characterize the most effective organic solvent for the recovery of uranium. Uranium oxide was dissolved in ammonium carbonate solution to form uranium tri-carbonate aqueous feed solution. Results show that 0.2 M ammonium carbonate and 0.01 M uranium mixed with 15% Aliquat 336 in Toluene at volume ratio (A/O) of 1:5 produced 98% extraction of uranium from the alkaline media.

Source: Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts ABC - November 23, 2019 Category: Science Source Type: research