Application of Eichrom Sr Resin to the Separation and Enrichment of Lead and Strontium in Uranium Ore Concentrates

Abstract

BACKGROUND The traceability study of uranium ore concentrates plays an important role in nuclear forensics. By measuring the abundance ratios of lead and stontium isotopes, the results can provide some geographical indication information for traceability. OBJECTIVES To achieve the separation of large amounts of uranium from trace lead and strontium and to establish a set of methods for separating lead and strontium from uranium ore concentrate, while providing technical support for the establishment of a lead and strontium isotopes database in uranium ore concentrate. METHODS Based on Eichrom Sr resin's adsorption properties for lead and strontium, the main factors (acidity, current velocity and volume) affecting the recovery of lead and strontium were optimized by orthogonal testing. The best washing conditions have been determined. The combination of UTEVA resin and Eichrom Sr resin can effectively reduce uranium content in lead and strontium eluent and thus reduce the matrix effect. RESULTS The results show that the recovery of lead and strontium is more than 90% and the uranium content in lead and strontium eluent is less than 500ng, an improvement on the reported value of 48.8μg. CONCLUSIONS The actual uranium ore concentrate samples were measured by this method. The results show that the lead and strontium isotope abundance ratios can be used as the geographical traceability criteria for uranium ore concentrates, providing a technique for the future establishment of lead and strontium isotope databases for uranium ore concentrates.

Keywords

• eichrom sr resin
• uranium ore concentrates
• lead
• strontium
• matrix effect