Removal of radium from acidic solutions containing same by adsorption on coal fly ash

Patent · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:864877

Scheitlin, Frank M ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN

The invention is a process for the removal of radium from acidic aqueous solutions. In one aspect, the invention is a process for removing radium from an inorganic-acid solution. The process comprises contacting the solution with coal fly ash to effect adsorption of the radium on the ash. The radium-containing ash then is separated from the solution. The process is simple, comparatively inexpensive, and efficient. High radium-distribution coefficients are obtained even at room temperature. Coal fly ash is an inexpensive, acid-resistant, high-surface-area material which is available in large quantities throughout the United States. The invention is applicable, for example, to the recovery of .sup.226 Ra from nitric acid solutions which have been used to leach radium from uranium-mill tailings.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4431609
• OSTI ID: 864877
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/423/210/
226
acid
acid solution
acid solutions
acid-resistant
acidic
acidic aqueous
acidic solution
acidic solutions
adsorption
applicable
aqueous
aqueous solution
aqueous solutions
ash
aspect
available
coal
coal fly
coefficients
comparatively
comparatively inexpensive
comprises
comprises contacting
contacting
containing
effect
efficient
example
fly
fly ash
high-surface-area
inexpensive
inorganic-acid
leach
material
nitric
nitric acid
obtained
process
process comprises
quantities
radium
radium-containing
radium-distribution
recovery
removal
removing
separated
simple
solution
solutions
solutions containing
tailings
temperature
throughout
united
uranium-mill