IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO RECOVERY OF THORIUM BY MEANS OF OXALIC ACID
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
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
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