OPTIMIZATION OF URANIUM (VI) EXTRACTION FROM PHOSPHORIC ACID USING TRIOCTYLPHOSPHINE OXIDE IN KEROSENE: A RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY APPROACH

The recovery of uranium from phosphoric acid represents a critical dual-purpose process addressing both nuclear fuel security and radiological safety in fertilizer production. Despite established industrial protocols, optimization of solvent extraction parameters for low-concentration uranium feeds remains inadequately resolved. This study employs central composite design (CCD) coupled with response surface methodology (RSM) to systematically optimize uranium (VI) extraction from Syrian phosphoric acid using trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) in kerosene. Under optimal conditions (O/A ratio 2.84, TOPO concentration 80.2%, contact time 9.36 min), uranium extraction efficiency reached 90.11%, with a quadratic model demonstrating exceptional predictive capability (R² = 0.9962, adjusted R² = 0.9927). The organic-to-aqueous phase ratio and extractant concentration exhibited the most significant influence on extraction yield (F-values 1081.45 and 793.09, respectively), while kinetic limitations were minimal. This work establishes a robust statistical framework for optimizing uranium recovery from unconventional resources, with direct applicability to phosphate rock processing facilities in high-uranium-content regions such as the Khneifis deposit.