Studies on the beneficiation of molybdenum and uranium in sulfuric lixiviation of ores. Part I. Separation of Mo(VI)--U(VI) pairs by sorption of molybdenum on weakly anionic resin and fixation of uranium on strongly anionic resin. Part II. Separation of Mo(VI)--U(VI) pairs by adsorption of molybdenum on coal and sorption of uranium on strongly anionic resin

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1973

OSTI ID:4937383

Matsuda, H T; Abrao, A

The separation of uranium from molybdenum is described. The complex sulfates of U(VI) and Mo(VI) and their affinity for anionic ion exchangers, and the adsorption of Mo on activated charcoal were studied. This strong sorption of molybdenum on the strong anionic resin, much more pronounced than for the complex uranyl sulfate, is the most serious problem for this separation of both elements. The difference in the affinities of Mo(VI) and U(VI) led to a very difficult elution of Mo which has the tendency to remain in the resin as a poisoner. This difficulty was overcome by the sorption of Mo(VI) in a weal anionic resin. The experiments in a strong one, but its retention is still high and could be used for its separation from uranium. Mo is more easily eluted from the weak anionic resin with NaOH solution than from the strong anionic resin. On the other hand, the sorption of complex uranyl suifate in anionic resin is considerably lower than in a strong one. This difference in behavior of Mo(VI) and U(VI) in sulfuric medium make possible the separation of both elements using two columns, the first one for the retention of molybdenum in a weak ion exchanger and the second for the sorption of uranyl sulfate in a strong anionic exchanger. However, this scheme allows only a good enrichment of Mo in the weak resin and of U in the strong resin. The fixation of Mo in the first column is not selective and its elution is not complete as well, always residual Mo remaining in the resin. This enrichment of U and Mo does not give a satisfactory resolution for the separation of both elements. This difficulty was overcome by a separation scheme, Mo being selectively adsorbed on an activated charcoal column and the effluent percolated through a strong ion exchanger for the sorption of uranyl sulfate. Molybdenum is easily eluted with dilute sodium or ammonium hydroxide. Uranium is eluted with NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ 1.0M-HNO/sub 3/ 0.1M. The proposed scheme applied to a semipilot scale led to satisfactory results for the separation, concentration, and recovery of Mo and U from the suifuric liquors of Morro do AgostiMo ore, Minas Gerais in Brazil. (auth)

• Research Organization: Instituto de Energia Atomica, Sao Paulo (Brazil)
• Sponsoring Organization: Sponsor not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-29-018130
• OSTI ID: 4937383
• Report Number(s): IEA--291
• Country of Publication: Brazil
• Language: Portuguese

Related Subjects

ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORPTION
ANIONS
BRAZIL
CATIONS
ION EXCHANGE
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MOLYBDENUM
MOLYBDENUM COMPOUNDS
MOLYBDENUM ORES
N40240* --Chemistry--Inorganic
Organic
& Physical Chemistry--Feed Materials Processing
ORE PROCESSING
RESINS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
SOLUTIONS
SULFATES
SULFURIC ACID
URANIUM
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM ORES
URANYL COMPOUNDS