Studies on the Low Gas Flow Rate Foam Separation of U(VI) from Sulfate Media

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Abstract
The two low gas flow rate foam separation processes, “ion and precipitate flotation,” were investigated for the separation of hexavalent uranium from dilute sulfate solutions at different conditions of pH, gas flow rate, and concentration of uranyl, collector, and sulfate ions using the anionic collector sodium lauryl sulfate and the two cationic collectors cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide and lauryl amine hydrochloride. No significant removal could be achieved with sodium lauryl sulfate, whereas cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide and lauryl amine hydrochloride gave high uranium recoveries. Precipitate flotation was generally less sensitive than ion flotation to all the factors tested, and both the rate and ultimate removal were much greater. Lauryl amine hydrochloride causes a shift of the initial pH at which precipitate flotation begins to lower values, and the extent of shifting depends on the collector concentration. The reasons for this shift as well as the effects of the different factors on the flotation results are discussed.