INVESTIGATIONS ON ALKALINE METHODS FOR MONAZITE AND ZIRCON PROCESSING

Technical Report · Sat Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4261610

Caplan, G E; Uspenskaya, T A

Along with sulfation in application to monazite, alkaline methods have been introduced recently on a commercial scale in a number of countries. Judging by the literature, the alkaline method of decomposition of the mineral is accomplished, as a rule, by heating finely ground monazite concentrates with solutions of caustic soda. The investigations discussed are devoted to a study of the preparation of thorium, rare earth, and phosphorus compounds from monazite by alkaline decomposition. The methods which were studied included fusion with caustic soda, treatment with caustic soda solution, sintering with soda ash, and sintering with lime. The raw material used was a concentrate containing about 95% monazite (about 50% to 60% total rare earth oxides, 7 to 8% thorium oxide, and 23 to 26% phosphorus pentoxide). A study of the conditions of sintering the monazite concentrate with soda ash showed that the addition of fluorine compounds, such as fluorspar or sodium silicofluoride, to the charge before sintering ensures a high degree of monazite decomposition at 800 to 825 deg C. (auth) H03

• Research Organization: U.S.S.R.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-007331
• OSTI ID: 4261610
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/2154
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CALCIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM OXIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENRICHMENT
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FLUORITE
HEATING
HYDROXIDES
LIME
MELTING
MINERALS
MONAZITES
OXIDES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS OXIDES
PREPARATION
RARE EARTHS
SILICON FLUORIDES
SINTERING
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM FLUORIDES
SOLUTIONS
SULFATES
TECHNOLOGY
TEMPERATURE
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
THORIUM ORES
THORIUM OXIDES