Extraction of Uranium(VI) by Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphoric acid, Tributyl Phosphate and Trioctyl Phosphine Oxide Gels

Abstract

The gel-liquid extraction of U(VI) has been studied using the equilibrium distribution method. Gels used in this study were prepared by swelling styrene divinylbenzene with di-(2-ethyl-hexyl)-phosphoric acid (HDEHP), tributyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphine oxide or mixtures of HDEHP and each of the other reagents. Synergistic enhancement of extraction was obtained with the latter gels and a mechanism which accounts for the observed results was proposed.