Separation of radioactive metal ions by hollow fiber-supported liquid membrane and permeability analysis

Extraction and stripping of uranium ions from nitrate media using a hollow fiber liquid membrane contactor was studied. In this study, tri-butyl phosphate (TBP) diluted in kerosene was used as extractant and sodium hydroxide was applied as a stripping solution. Uranium ions were extracted using TBP 5%(v/v) by rejecting thorium ions into raffinate with a maximum percentage of extraction for the uranium being 67%. The mathematical model was focused on the extraction side of the liquid membrane system. The permeability for each concentration of HNO3 was investigated by mass transfer theory. When the concentration of HNO3 increased, more uranium ions were extracted; however, when the concentration of uranium and thorium in the feed solution was increased, the percentage of extraction and stripping slightly decreased because the permeability decreases when the concentration of the feed solution increases due to membrane fouling and concentration polarization.