Eco-friendly technology for “Nitrofos” fertilizer obtained from radioactive man-made waste

Abstract

The article presents the results of research into the process of purification of phosphoric acid from radioactive isotopes after extraction of uranium, thorium, and REE. It is shown that the main purification of acid is achieved in the process of gypsum precipitation with sulfuric acid and barium nitrate. Additional purification of nitrate-phosphate solution is achieved after uranium extraction and sorption-extraction purification of REE. The sorption raffinate with a concentration of P2O5 25 g/L, REE 0.5 g/L and NH4NO3 300 g/L were used for fertilizer production. Additional purification of NH4NO3 solution from isotopes 226Ra, 210Po, 227Ac is achieved in the process of REE extraction purification. The aggregate of all refining processes of purification of nitrate-phosphate solution from radioactive isotopes provided NP-fertilizer “Nitrofos”, which meets the quality standards. Extraction of P2O5 from raw materials into NP-fertilizer – 90%; extraction of REE from raw materials into collective chemical concentrate – 95%; direct commercial extraction of REE from raw materials into the product – 85%.