Energies (Sep 2020)

Optimal Monazite Concentration Processes for the Extraction of Uranium and Thorium Fuel Material

  • Olga Fedorova,
  • Elizaveta Vershinina,
  • Svetlana Krasitskaya,
  • Ivan Tananaev,
  • Boris Myasoedov,
  • Marco Vocciante

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/en13184601
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 18
p. 4601

Abstract

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The optimal conditions for the nitric acid dissolution of precipitates of hydroxides and hydrated oxides of rare-earth elements, uranium, and thorium obtained after autoclave alkaline opening of samples of monazite concentrate have been determined. The distribution of radioactive impurities between the solid phase and the solution in the processes of alkaline opening, dephosphorization, and acid dissolution of the pulp was studied. Two options are proposed for the extraction of uranium and thorium in the presence of rare earth elements, followed by separation of the components using tributyl phosphate of various contents in the carbon diluent.

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