Extraction of Uranium and Thorium Using Triphenylphosphine Oxide (TPPO) From El Sela Granite, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

Triphenylphosphine Oxide (TPPO) dissolved in toluene has been chosen for extraction both of uranium and thorium. Different parameters were carried out testing the following variables different diluents, TPPO concentrations, aqueous to organic phase ratio (A/O), shaking time, temperature and different stripping agents. The thermodynamic parameters H, G and S were calculated for uranium and thorium extractions. The data obtained showed that, best results for uranium were obtained using each of the following systems, 0.02M TPPO dissolved in toluene, A/O 41, 5 min. of shaking time at room temperature and 0.5M HNO3 for stripping of uranium. On other hand, 0.04M TPPO dissolved in toluene, A/O 41, 4 min. of shaking time at room temperature and 2M HNO3 acid was used for thorium stripping. The factors studied were followed by application of the extraction system to determine the uranium and thorium from studied samples, El Sela area, south Eastern Desert, Egypt. Thermodynamic were identified proving exothermic, spontaneous and randomness reaction for extraction processes.