skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO RECOVERY OF THORIUM BY MEANS OF OXALIC ACID

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4145261

An improved method is given for the separation of thorium by oxalate precipitation from acid leach liquors obtained from thorium-bearing ores containing rare earths and phosphates. e.g., monazite. by H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ treatment. The method yields thorium with a relatively low proportion of rare earths. Oxalic acid is added in a molar aniount 3 to 5 times that of the dissolved thorium with the liquor at 4.8 to 5.5 N with respect to total acid. The precipitate can be purified from its phosphate and its thorium/rare earths ratio can be further increased by digesting with aqueous H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ containing oxalic acid. Seven applications of the above method are given, one of which gave a final precipitate containing 8.78 g ThO/sub 2/ and 2.63 g rare-earth oxides from a monazite sand of 7.65% ThO/sub 2/ and 55.5% rare-earth oxides. (D.L.C.)

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-14-025533
OSTI ID:
4145261
Report Number(s):
GB 843206
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English