Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Optimization of thorium solvent extraction and stripping processes from the leach liquor of thorium ore

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

A.H. Kalantari 1
M. Outokesh 1
H. Zare Tavakoli 2
D. Ghoddoci Nejad 2

1 Department of Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Faculty of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O.BOX: 14565-1114, Tehran - Iran

2 Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 11365-8486, Tehran - Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2024.1597
Abstract
This research investigates and optimizes the parameters of solvent extraction processes using thorium leach solutions from Chahgaz ore with D2EHPA. The effective parameters in the solvent extraction process were evaluated through experimental design to maximize thorium extraction and minimize iron extraction. Under optimum conditions—pH 0.6, extraction time of 2 minutes, 16% solvent concentration, and an organic-to-aqueous phase ratio of 1:2—thorium and iron recoveries were 99.47% and 9.60%, respectively. For the optimization of the stripping process, 89.75% thorium and 0.6% iron were recovered in 3.34 minutes with an organic-to-aqueous phase ratio of 2:1 and a sulfuric acid concentration of 3.9M.

Highlights

  1. Revol J.P, Bourquin M, Kadi Y, Lillestol E, De Mestral J.C, Samec K. Thorium Energy for the World. In Proceedings of the ThEC13 Conference, CERN, Globe of Science and Innovation, Geneva, Switzerland. ed. 2013.

 

  1. International Atomic Energy Agency. Thorium Fuel Cycles: Potential Benefits and challenges. Vienna, Australia. 2005;5-20.

 

  1. Meera R. Synergistic solvent extraction of thorium(IV) and uranium (VI) with R-Diketones in presence of oxo-donors. PhD. India. 2004.

 

  1. Crawford J.E. Thorium mineral facts and problems. U.S Bur. Mines Bull. 1956;556.

 

  1. Habashi F. A Textbook of Hydrometallurgy. Department Mining & Metallurgy Laval University. Qutbec City, Canada. 1999.

 

  1. Manuel Aguilar and Luis Cortina Jose, Solvent Extraction and Liquid Membranes: Fundamentals and Applications in New Materials. 2008.

 

  1. Rydberg J, Cox M, Musikas C, Choppin G.

Solvent extraction and practice. Second

Edition. MARCEL DEKKER Inc. 2004.

 

  1. Turgeon K, Boulanger J.F, Bazin C. Simulation of Solvent Extraction Circuits for the Separation of Rare Earth Elements. Minerals. 2023;13(6):714.

 

  1. Gupta C.K, Mukherjee T.K. Hydrometallurgy

in extraction process. CRC Press. 1990.

 

  1. Mason G.W. Process for separation of the rare

earths by solvent extraction. U.S Patent. No.

  1. 1975.

 

  1. Fathi H. Handbook of Extractive Metallurgy Wiley-VCH. Weinheim. 1997;1649-1684.

 

  1. Thorium fuel cycle- Potentialbenefits and challenges. IAEA-TECDOC-1450. 2005.

 

  1. Nasab M.E. Solvent extraction separation of uranium (VI) and thorium (IV) with neutral organophosphorus and amine ligands. Fuel. 2014;116:595-600.

 

  1. Amaral J.C.B.S, Sá M.L.C.G, Morais C.A. Recovery of uranium, thorium and rare earth from industrial residues. Hydrometallurgy. 2018;181:148-155.

 

  1. Abdellah W. Preparation of Pure Uranium, Thorium, and Yttrium Oxides from El-Garra El-Hamra Sulfate Leach Liquor. Radiochemistry. 2020;62:347-358.

 

  1. Chung K.W, Yoon H.-S, Kim C.-J, Lee J.-Y, Jyothi R.K. Solvent extraction, separation and recovery of thorium from Korean monazite leach liquors for nuclear industry applications. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. 2020;83:72-80.

 

  1. Zare Tavakoli H, Keshtkar A. Production of thorium concentrate from Chahgaz ore. Nuclear Sci. and Tech. Ins. 2022 [In Persian].

Keywords

Solvent extraction
Stripping
Chahgaz mine thorium
D2EHPA
Design of experiment
  1. Revol J.P, Bourquin M, Kadi Y, Lillestol E, De Mestral J.C, Samec K. Thorium Energy for the World. In Proceedings of the ThEC13 Conference, CERN, Globe of Science and Innovation, Geneva, Switzerland. ed. 2013.

 

  1. International Atomic Energy Agency. Thorium Fuel Cycles: Potential Benefits and challenges. Vienna, Australia. 2005;5-20.

 

  1. Meera R. Synergistic solvent extraction of thorium(IV) and uranium (VI) with R-Diketones in presence of oxo-donors. PhD. India. 2004.

 

  1. Crawford J.E. Thorium mineral facts and problems. U.S Bur. Mines Bull. 1956;556.

 

  1. Habashi F. A Textbook of Hydrometallurgy. Department Mining & Metallurgy Laval University. Qutbec City, Canada. 1999.

 

  1. Manuel Aguilar and Luis Cortina Jose, Solvent Extraction and Liquid Membranes: Fundamentals and Applications in New Materials. 2008.

 

  1. Rydberg J, Cox M, Musikas C, Choppin G.

Solvent extraction and practice. Second

Edition. MARCEL DEKKER Inc. 2004.

 

  1. Turgeon K, Boulanger J.F, Bazin C. Simulation of Solvent Extraction Circuits for the Separation of Rare Earth Elements. Minerals. 2023;13(6):714.

 

  1. Gupta C.K, Mukherjee T.K. Hydrometallurgy

in extraction process. CRC Press. 1990.

 

  1. Mason G.W. Process for separation of the rare

earths by solvent extraction. U.S Patent. No.

  1. 1975.

 

  1. Fathi H. Handbook of Extractive Metallurgy Wiley-VCH. Weinheim. 1997;1649-1684.

 

  1. Thorium fuel cycle- Potentialbenefits and challenges. IAEA-TECDOC-1450. 2005.

 

  1. Nasab M.E. Solvent extraction separation of uranium (VI) and thorium (IV) with neutral organophosphorus and amine ligands. Fuel. 2014;116:595-600.

 

  1. Amaral J.C.B.S, Sá M.L.C.G, Morais C.A. Recovery of uranium, thorium and rare earth from industrial residues. Hydrometallurgy. 2018;181:148-155.

 

  1. Abdellah W. Preparation of Pure Uranium, Thorium, and Yttrium Oxides from El-Garra El-Hamra Sulfate Leach Liquor. Radiochemistry. 2020;62:347-358.

 

  1. Chung K.W, Yoon H.-S, Kim C.-J, Lee J.-Y, Jyothi R.K. Solvent extraction, separation and recovery of thorium from Korean monazite leach liquors for nuclear industry applications. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. 2020;83:72-80.

 

  1. Zare Tavakoli H, Keshtkar A. Production of thorium concentrate from Chahgaz ore. Nuclear Sci. and Tech. Ins. 2022 [In Persian].

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