REMOVAL OF IRON FROM SYNERGISTIC DI-2-ETHYLHEXYL PHOSPHORIC ACID AND TRI BUTYL PHOSPHATE ORGANIC SOLVENT LOADED WITH URANIUM FROM SULFATE LEACH

Uranium leach liquor was obtained by uranium leaching of a technological sample of Gattar GV
area, eastern desert, Egypt. Ore was subjected to uranium extraction using the synergistic organic solvent
technique; the solvent used was mixture of di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid and tributyl phosphate. The
effect of sulfuric acid concentration, effect of leaching time, effect of leaching temperature, and liquid/
solid phase ratio were investigated to produce sulfate leach liquor from GV. Synergistic 0.5 M D2EHPA
and 0.5 M TBP organic solvent agitated with leach liquor solution of GV ( Org./Aq. 2:1) for 5 min at
room temperature were the optimum conditions for uranium extraction of 96 %. Iron co-extracted into the
loaded organic phase with uranium was removed by using oxalic acid (scrubbing process). In this concern,
different parameters were investigated such as, effect of scrubbing time, effect of oxalic acid concentration,
effect of temperature, and effect of organic to aqueous phase ratio.