IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE RECOVERY OF CAESIUM VALUES FROM CAESIUM PHOSPHOTUNGSTATE
A process for producing a solution containing cesium from cesium phosphotungstate, the solution being substantially free from phosphate, tungstate, and phosphotungstate ions, is described. In particular, radioactive cesium sulfate or cesium chloride is produced from an aqueous nitric acid solution of nuclear fission products by separating the cesium from the products by precipitation as cesium phosphotungstate. The cesium phosphotungstate is first dissolved in an aqueous solution of ammonia. Then barium hydroxide solution is added to the dissolved solution such that the barium is in excess of the chemical equivalent of the phosphate and tungstate in the cesium phosphotungstate. A major proportion of the excess barium is precipitated as carbonate by adding ammonium carbonate in excess and boiling the solution. The solution formed is evaporated to small bulk whereby the excess ammonia is driven off and the remainder of the barium is precipitated as carbonate. The solution is separated from the precipitate and sulfuric or hydrochloric acid is added in slight excess to the separated solution. Cesium sulfate or cesium chloride is formed when the solution is evaporated to dryness. A modification of the process for cesium sulfate consists of precipitating the excess barium hydroxide as sulfate by the addition of sulfuric acid to give a solution of pH above 3 to 4, and separating the solution of cesium sulfate from the precipitate so formed. (N.W.R.)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-020802
- OSTI ID:
- 4067543
- Report Number(s):
- GB 868841
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
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