Occidental Petroleum Company

James L Bradford

Fernando N Ore

Fernando N Ore'

Impure phosphoric acid containing uranium values is pretreated with a water immiscible organic sulfonic acid, preferably in conjunction with a water immiscible organic acid phosphate compound, for extraction of ionic metallic impurities and organic impurities to produce pretreated phosphoric acid containing uranium values. Pretreated phosphoric acid is contacted with a water immiscible extractant comprising an organic uranium-extracting agent, preferably an organophosphorus compound, dissolved in a water immiscible organic diluent to produce uranium-depleted phosphoric acid and uranium-enriched extractant. Uranium is recovered from the uranium-enriched extractant.

Uranium recovery from pre-treated phosphoric acid

Water immiscible organic acid phosphates used in conjunction with water immiscible organic sulfonic acids results in an improved process for the purification of phosphoric acid. An increase in the extraction of ionic metallic impurities and a decrease in the extraction of P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values from the aqueous phosphoric acid phase is observed in the improved solvent extraction process.

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Brea, CA, United States of America

James L Bradford