Research of the influence of the feed solution flow rate on the uranium refining in an extraction column cascade

The present work aims to study the influence of the feed solution flow rate on uranium refining in a cascade of extraction columns. Numerical studies of uranium extraction refining in a column cascade using a nonequilibrium mathematical model of liquid extraction are presented. The model describes the main physical and chemical processes in the column, including the longitudinal mixing of liquid phases, convective mass transfer, as well as the mass exchange between the water and organic phases. The model used a uranium extraction isotherm based on the data of the interaction between an aqueous solution of uranyl nitrate, nitric acid, and a tributyl phosphate solution in a hydrocarbon diluent. The operation of the extraction column cascade with various flow rates of the water phase at the inlet was simulated. Based on the calculations, the maximum flow rate of the feed aqueous solution was established ensuring the maximum cascade productivity and isolation of uranium from the water-tail solution.