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Title: METHOD OF PROCESSING MONAZITE SAND

Abstract

A process is described for recovering thorium, uranium, and rare earth values from monazite sand. The monazite sand is first digested with sulfuric acid and the resulting "monazite sulfate" solution is adjusted to a pH of between 0.4 and 3.0, and oxalate anions are added causing precipitation of the thorium and the rare earths as the oxalates. The oxalate precipitate is separated from the uranium containing supernatant solution, and is dried and calcined to the oxides. The thorium and rare earth oxides are then dissolved in nitric acid and the solution is contacted with tribntyl phosphate whereby an organic extract phase containing the cerium and thorium values is obtained, together with an aqueous raffinate containing the other rare earth values. The organic phase is then separated from the aqueous raffinate and the cerium and thorium are back extracted with an aqueous medium.

Inventors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Originating Research Org. not identified
OSTI Identifier:
4262100
Patent Number(s):
US 2849286
Assignee:
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
NSA Number:
NSA-13-004312
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
PATENTS; ACIDITY; ANIONS; BUTYL PHOSPHATES; CALCINATION; CERIUM; CERIUM COMPLEXES; COMPOUNDS; HEATING; MONAZITES; NITRIC ACID; OXALATES; OXIDATION; OXIDES; PHOSPHATES; PRECIPITATION; PYROLYSIS; RARE EARTHS; RECOVERY; SAND; SEPARATION PROCESSES; SOLUTIONS; SULFATES; SULFURIC ACID; THORIUM; THORIUM COMPLEXES; URANIUM; WATER

Citation Formats

Welt, M A, and Smutz, M. METHOD OF PROCESSING MONAZITE SAND. United States: N. p., 1958. Web.
Welt, M A, & Smutz, M. METHOD OF PROCESSING MONAZITE SAND. United States.
Welt, M A, and Smutz, M. 1958. "METHOD OF PROCESSING MONAZITE SAND". United States.
@article{osti_4262100,
title = {METHOD OF PROCESSING MONAZITE SAND},
author = {Welt, M A and Smutz, M},
abstractNote = {A process is described for recovering thorium, uranium, and rare earth values from monazite sand. The monazite sand is first digested with sulfuric acid and the resulting "monazite sulfate" solution is adjusted to a pH of between 0.4 and 3.0, and oxalate anions are added causing precipitation of the thorium and the rare earths as the oxalates. The oxalate precipitate is separated from the uranium containing supernatant solution, and is dried and calcined to the oxides. The thorium and rare earth oxides are then dissolved in nitric acid and the solution is contacted with tribntyl phosphate whereby an organic extract phase containing the cerium and thorium values is obtained, together with an aqueous raffinate containing the other rare earth values. The organic phase is then separated from the aqueous raffinate and the cerium and thorium are back extracted with an aqueous medium.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4262100}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 1958},
month = {Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 1958}
}