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Extraction and separation of uranium(VI) and protactinium(V) with 1-(4-tolyl)-2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridone

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Summary

The extraction of uranium(VI) from aqueous hydrochloric or nitric acid, and the extraction of protactinium from hydrochloric acid by 1-(4-tolyl)-2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridone (HY) dissolved in chloroform has been studied. At pH >4, uranium (VI) is quantitatively extracted while at pH < 1 practically all the uranium remains in the aqueous phase. At hydrochloric acid concentrations lower than 1M, protactinium(V) is quantitatively extracted while at hydrochloric acid concentration higher than 5M practically all the protactinium remains in the aqueous phase. This difference in extraction of uranium and protactinium was utilized for their separation. From 0.5M hydrochloric acid, protactinium is quantitatively extracted, and separated from uranium.

The composition of the extracted uranium(VI) and protactinium (V) complexes was studied. A uranium complex with the formula UO2Y2 · HY was isolated from the chloroform solution. The solution of this complex in chloroform has a maximum absorbance at 319 nm and the molar absorptivity is 3.1×104 l · mole−1 · cm−1. Owing to this property uranium can be determined spectro-photometrically directly in the organic phase.

Zusammenfassung

Die Extraktion von Uran(VI) aus wäßriger Salzsäure oder Salpetersäure sowie die Extraktion von Protaktinium aus Salzsäure mit 1-(4-Tolyl)-2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridon (HY) in chloroformischer Lösung wurde untersucht. Bei pH > 4 wird U(VI) quantitativ extrahiert, während bei pH < 1 praktisch alles Uran in der wäßrigen Phase bleibt. Bei Salzsäurekonzen-trationen unter 1-m wird Protaktinium (V) quantitativ extrahiert, während bei Salzsäurekonzentrationen über 5-m praktisch alles Pa in der wäßrigen Phase bleibt. Dieser Unterschied bei der Extraktion der beiden Elemente wurde für deren Trennung benützt. Pa wird aus 0,5-m Salzsäure quantitativ extrahiert und so von Uran getrennt.

Die Zusammensetzung der extrahierten U (VI)- und Pa (V)-Komplexe wurde untersucht. Ein Urankomplex der Formel UO2 · Y2 · HY wurde aus der Chloroformlösung isoliert. Die Lösung dieses Komplexes in Chloroform hat ein Absorptionsmaximum bei 319 nm und eine molare Extinktion von 3,1 · 104 l · mol−1 · cm−1. Auf Grund dieser Eigenschaft kann Uran spektrophotometrisch direkt in der organischen Phase bestimmt werden.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Zagreb, Yugoslavia

    B. Tamhina, A. Gojmerac & M. J. Herak

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  1. B. Tamhina
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  2. A. Gojmerac
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  3. M. J. Herak
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Tamhina, B., Gojmerac, A. & Herak, M.J. Extraction and separation of uranium(VI) and protactinium(V) with 1-(4-tolyl)-2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridone. Mikrochim Acta 66, 569–578 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01220115

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01220115

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