Upgrading of the crude yellowcake to a highly purified form using tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate in presence of EDTA or CDTA

Purification of low grade uranium concentrate was carried out using 0.05 mol L−1 Tris 2-ethylhexyl Phosphate in kerosene from 5 mol L−1 nitrate solution. More than 98% of uranium extracted after 5 stages of contact, shaking time 5 min, volume phase ratio 1/1 and at room temperature. Uranium stripping efficiency reached 99% using double distilled H2O, 10 min shaking time, (O/A) ratio 4/1 and after three stripping stages. The masking agents used to improve the yellowcake purity compared to the experiment without additives, with Ethylene diaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) ensuring the highest purity. The result obtained can be attributed to complexation of impurity elements with EDTA, preventing their precipitation from the stripping solution.