Method for separating iron from an organic phase containing uranium and method for extracting uranium from an aqueous solution of mineral acid containing uranium and iron

Method for extracting uranium from a first aqueous solution of an inorganic acid containing uranium and iron, wherein at least the following successive steps are carried out:

• a) the first aqueous solution of inorganic acid is contacted with a first liquid organic phase;
• whereby are obtained, on the one hand, a second liquid organic phase containing a majority by weight of the quantity of uranium contained in the first aqueous solution of inorganic acid, and a minority by weight of the quantity of iron contained in the first aqueous solution of inorganic acid and, on the other hand, a second desuraniated aqueous phase containing the inorganic acid, a minority by weight of the quantity of uranium contained in the aqueous solution of inorganic acid, and a majority by weight of the quantity of iron contained in the aqueous solution of inorganic acid;
• b) the iron is separated from the second liquid organic phase containing uranium and iron, by contacting the second liquid organic phase with a third aqueous solution referred to as aqueous de-ironing solution, whereby the iron passes into the aqueous de-ironing solution to form a final liquid aqueous phase, and uranium remains in the second liquid organic phase to form a final liquid organic phase referred to as de-ironed organic phase;
• said method being characterised in that the aqueous de-ironing solution contains an inorganic acid and uranium, and does not contain iron.