Optimization of thorium solvent extraction process from feed solution with Cyanex 272 by response surface methodology (RSM)

Abstract

Due to the limited reserves of uranium, the abundance of thorium compared to it and other advantages, the development of the thorium fuel cycle is of interest in different countries. The optimization of thorium extraction from a feed solution produced by Saghand ore with bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) on a laboratory scale was evaluated by response surface method. The operating variables include Cyanex 272 concentration of 0.001 to 0.2 mol/L, pH of 0 to 2, equilibrium time of 5 to 60 min and aqueous to organic phase ratio of 0.5 to 2.5 were conducted. The value of R² = 0.9695 and an error of less than 4% indicate the validity of the model. Therefore, the model is in good agreement with the experimental results. It can be said that there are significant interactions between operational parameters, which vindicate different feedbacks of the system in different operational conditions. The results showed that the 4 mol/L sulfuric acid was a suitable agent for recovering thorium ions from the loaded organic phase. In optimum conditions, the thorium purity percentage and thorium stripping efficiency were obtained 98.99 and 94.12%, respectively.