Raffinate wash of second cycle solvent in the recovery of uranium from phosphate rock

In the process of recovering uranium from an aqueous solution of wet process phosphoric acid feed, comprising a first and a second cycle, where phosphoric acid is passed through extractor means and stripper means in both cycles and where a phosphoric acid raffinate containing about 3 grams to about 15 grams per liter of iron exits the extractor means in the first cycle;

• the improvement comprising treating a second cycle ammonia laden organic solvent stream to remove ammonia therefrom, after said solvent has passed through a second cycle stripper means and contacted ammonium compounds, said treating consisting of scrubbing said second cycle ammonia laden organic solvent stream in the second cycle, with first cycle phosphoric acid raffinate containing about 3 grams to about 15 grams per liter of iron, from the first cycle extractor means, in an amount effective to remove ammonia, to provide an ammonia barren organic solvent stream which is then fed into the second cycle extractor means without forming any substantial amounts of iron-ammonium-phosphate precipitate, where the volume ratio of the second cycle ammonia laden organic solvent stream:first cycle iron containing phosphoric acid raffinate stream from the first cycle extractor means is from 1:0.2 to 0.5.