Uranium Production as a Byproduct from Yarimca Phosphoric Acid Plan(Turkey)

Abstract

This paper deals with uranium production from the phos-phoric acid products of Yarunca Fertilizer Plant. After examination of the phosphate rocks consumed in this plant and the acid products, solvent extraction tests were conducted to determine the effects of acid concentration, solvent concentration in kerosene, contact time and acid /solvent ratio on the recoveries of uranium. 98 % of total uranium in acid was recovered in the organic phase by applying 5 stage extraction. Following the extraction tests, acidic and basic stripping were applied to organic phase and uranium was precipitated as yellow cake from the stripping solutions. In the stripping tests mainly aqueous /organic phase ratio and stripping time were investigated using HCI and Na, CO3 as stripping agents. Na, CO3 provided higher uranium recoveries both at the short time and low ratio of the stripping solution. Yellow cakes were produced containing 13-18.4 %U308 from acidic and 30-46.4 % U308 from basic stripping solutions.