SLAG PROCESSING AND MAGNESIUM FLUORIDE SOLUBILITY
The U-Con product of the Mag Residue Plant can be Batisfactorily processed at the SLPC. U-Con digestion presents no difficulty provided the material is added slowly, with strong agitation, to avoid a buildup of wareacted material. Aluminum can be safety added to complex the fluoride without significantly increasing the soluble fluoride concentration. Extraction of U with ether is favored if Al is present in the feed liquor. The presence of Al helps to reduce both the loss of U to the raffinate and the contamination of the extract with fluoride. Uranium and Al both increase the rate of solution and solubility of MgF/sub 2/, probably because of complex fluoride formation. The appearance of the MgAl fluoride was unexpected. However, it did not form when fused MgF/sub 2/ was used amd its equilibrium fluoride concentration in synthetic digest solutions was intolerably high. The solubility (10 g F/l) of the U-Con tailings in the synthetic digest solution is also tno great to be tolerable. The results which were obtained with U-Con tailings indicate that the quantity of MgF/ sub 2/ in a dimestion system must be carefully controlled or excessive fluoride levels may be encountered. Unless specific information is available to the contrary, this is the only practical was to prevent serious fluoride problems. Adequate control at levels below 5 g F/l can be obtained by using Al. Why the various MgF/sub 2/ exhibit such different solution rates is not known. Particle and/or crystallite size is suspected, but the exact role of each and the existence of other influential factors was not established in this work. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, St. Louis
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-016726
- OSTI ID:
- 4136133
- Report Number(s):
- MCW-1395
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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