Leaching of uranium ore with emphasis on the fate of radium

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Energy Sources (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00908318208946030· OSTI ID:6270219

Phillips, C R; Poon, Y C; Sears, P L

Alternative leaching agents to sulfuric acid in the leaching of uranium ore are examined in terms of their ability to leach uranium, radium, and thorium from the ore. Under the leaching conditions (single stage, 70/sup 0/C, 16 hr, up to 3 N leachant concentration, in a solid to liquid ratio of 50 g:200 mL), which were not optimized, the percentages of elements leached were as follows: HNO/sub 3/(95 percent U; 70.80 percent Th), HCl (90 percent U; 80 percent Th; 85 percent Ra), HCl/HNO/sub 3/ mixture (97 percent U; 85 percent Th). Anomalies in the leaching of radium by nitric acid are examined and attributed to the presence of colloids in the leach liquor resulting from the dissolution of iron pyrites in the ore by nitric acid.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 6270219
• Journal Information: Energy Sources (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Energy Sources (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 6:N3; ISSN EGYSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050400* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Feed Processing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDES
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LEACHATES
LEACHING
METALS
MIXTURES
NITRIC ACID
ORE PROCESSING
ORES
PROCESSING
RADIUM
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
SULFURIC ACID
THORIUM
URANIUM
URANIUM ORES