Uranium ore processing
Uranium ores, concentrates, calcines or tailings are processed to remove radium and thorium as well as uranium. Selected ores, concentrates or tailings, or if more appropriate, chlorination calcines thereof, are leached by selected aqueous chlorinecontaining media (preferably in two stages) until uranium, radium and thorium are substantially all dissolved, with the insoluble residual solids being suitable for disposal. The leach solution is treated to recover sequentially uranium, usually thorium, and radium by selected techniques. The radium recovered can be disposed of in any environmentally-acceptable manner. The amount of iron in the residual leach liquor should be controlled to avoid iron build-up, with the barren leach solution being suitable for recycle.
- Assignee:
- Canadian Patents and Development Ltd (Canada)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4374096
- OSTI ID:
- 6146431
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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