Liquid-liquid extraction of molybdenum from algerian phosphates by tributylphosphate diluted in kerosene

The substantial presence of molybdenum in uranium ores considerably diminishes their commercial value. This issue has driven the development of selective separation techniques aimed at recovering uranium with commercially viable purity levels. This study concentrates on the liquid-liquid extraction of molybdenum using a solvent mixture of tributyl phosphate (TBP) and tri-octylamine (TOA) dissolved in kerosene. The extraction process demonstrated both efficiency and speed, achieving optimal results within an agitation time of just 15 minutes. Optimal extraction conditions were identified as a pH of 1.83, a molybdenum concentration of 50 mg/L, and a phase ratio (Rv) of 0.10. Molybdenum concentrations in the aqueous phase were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Spectrometry, while the organic phase was analyzed with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicate that factors such as pH, extractant concentrations, and mixing conditions significantly influence the extraction efficiency, with notable synergistic effects observed between TBP and TOA. This method offers a promising solution for the selective extraction of molybdenum, presenting potential applications in industrial sectors like hydrometallurgy and waste treatment. The findings highlight the effectiveness of the TBP-TOA Extractants system in enhancing molybdenum recovery from Algerian phosphate, thereby improving the commercial viability of uranium ore processing.