Abstract: Uranium in wet-process phosphoric acid is extracted with an organic extractant. The pregnant extractant is then centrifuged to separate contaminants from the extractant. Secondary emulsions obtained by separating the contaminants following centrifugation are mixed with water or an acid leaching solution. After mixing, the mixture is centrifuged to separate and recover extractant which is recycled for stripping.

Abstract: A nozzle holder has a deformable end portion adapted to be passed through a hole in a distribution plate of an up-flow filter, whereby this end portion lies below the lower side of the plate. A nozzle extending through the holder engages the deformable end portion internally to maintain it in expanded condition and thereby prevent it from being withdrawn upward through the hole, and clamping means coacting with the holder at the upper side of the plate serve to clamp the expanded end portion of the holder against the lower side of the plate. This arrangement enables the nozzle to be installed entirely from above the plate.

Abstract: An oil and water mixture is fed under pressure to a lower chamber wherein any free oil rises to the upper part for discharge through an oil outlet while an emulsion of remaining oil and water is displaced upwardly through a baffle and a coalescing bed into an upper chamber having an upper outlet for coalesced oil and a lower outlet for separated water. To clean the coalescing bed, the mixture feed to the lower chamber is interrupted and the liquid level in the chambers is lowered to a region of the coalescing bed, after which gas is delivered under pressure to the liquid in the lower chamber so as to cause bubbling of the liquid in the bed, whereby dirt trapped therein is freed. The liquid level is then raised as the bubbling action continues, so that the dirt-containing liquid can be discharged from the upper chamber.