PROCESSING METHOD OF NITRIC-ACID SOLUTION OF REGENERATED URANIUM WITH REMOVAL OF TECHNETIUM (VERSIONS) Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC C22B60/02 C22B3/38 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: processing method of nitric-acid solution of regenerated uranium involves uranium (VI) extraction with tributyl phosphate in organic diluter; flushing of extract with nitric-acid solution and re-extraction of uranium. At that, removal of technetium from uranium is performed by shifting technetium (VII) to non-extracted quadrivalent state in flushing zone of extraction cascade with the use of flushing solution containing 0.1-0.2 mol/l of carbohydrazide and 0.05-0.15 mol/l of nitric acid. Extract is flushed at the ratio of flows of organic and water phases, which is equal to 10-15. Method can be implemented in two versions. As per the first version, used flushing solution is supplied to feed stage of extraction cascade and technetium is removed to raffinate. As per the second version, used flushing solution is a separate flow from which uranium is extracted by contact with flow of fresh extractant; organic phase is connected to initial uranium extract prior to supply to flushing zone, and technetium is removed to separate product the volume of which is 5 times less than the raffinate volume.

EFFECT: increasing separation efficiency of uranium and technetium.

9 cl, 2 dwg