EXTRACTION OF URANIUM (VI) BY DI-(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHOSPHORIC ACID GELS BASED ON A STYRENE-DIVINYLBENZENE COPOLYMER.

Uranium (VI) can efficiently extracted using hydrophobic gel particles prepared by swelling styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer beads with di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid packed into columns. Retained U (VI) can be quantitatively eluted with acid solutions. The effects of incorporating different organic solvents into the gel on its capacity and performance have been investigated. It was found that nitrobenzene gave the best results. The conditions required for the preparation of gels of high capacity is established.