ELUTION OF URANIUM FROM ANION EXCHANGE RESINS BY PREGNANT RAND SOLUTIONS. Topical Report

Technical Report · Thu Apr 30 04:00:00 EDT 1953

OSTI ID:4818567

Pannell, J H; Michal, S B; Thorpe, D F; Lower, G W; Bloecher, Jr, F W

The causes for loss of uranium originally adsorbed on strong base anion exchange resins from Rand cyanide residue leach liquors after prolonged passage of such liquors through resin columns were investigated. These liquors contained low concentrations of polythionates which were more strongly held by the resin than uranium and could displace uranium from the resin. Other anions such as cobalticyanide and ferricyanide were also more strongly adsorbed than uranium but thefr presence in the liquor, although suspected, could not be demonstrated by analysis. Because of competition, polythionates decreased uranium loadings. Thiocyanate did not affect loading but decreased the rate of uranium elution. Polythionates were partially eluted during the normal uranium elution cycle and accumulated in the eluate on recycle. They could be destroyed by the addition of peroxide or chlorine to leach liquors or eluates. Although they appeared to be the agents primarily responsible for self-elution they did not appear to have a permanent poisoning effect on the resin. The polythionates were thought to be derived from oxidation during acid leaching of sulfur compounds produced during cyanidation. (auth)

• Research Organization: American Cyanamid Co. Atomic Energy Div. Raw Materials Development Lab., Winchester, Mass.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-025463
• OSTI ID: 4818567
• Report Number(s): ACCO-12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ADSORPTION
ANIONS
CHEMISTRY
CHLORINE
COBALT COMPOUNDS
CYANIDES
DECOMPOSITION
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
IRON COMPOUNDS
LEACHING
LOSSES
ORE PROCESSING
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
PEROXIDES
RAND PROCESS
RESINS
SOLUTIONS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
THIOCYANATES
THIOCYANIDES
URANIUM