Studies on uranium extraction from leach liquor of the mineralized shear zone at El-Missikat area using tri-n-octylamine

Fast extraction of uranium from Egyptian low-grade uranium mineralization sulfate leach liquor was studied with kerosene solutions of tri-n-octylamine (TOA). The parameters affecting uranium extraction were studied and the optimum conditions were determined. The equilibrium isotherm demonstrated the association of four moles of TOA per mole of uranium. Thermodynamic studies at different temperatures indicated that the extraction process was exothermic, favorable and spontaneous in nature. The organic phase loaded with uranyl sulfate under the optimum extraction conditions were examined by infrared spectrometry. The McCabe–Thiele plot for circuit of uranium with TOA predicted three extraction stages and two stripping stages.