For the past ten years, much effort has been expended by several research teams to develop an economic process for recovering thorium, rare earths and uranium from monazite sands. Recently, a process was developed at the Ames Laboratory which possessed many attractive features. The major disadvantage inherent to the process was the large cost for oxalic acid. The oxalic acid was used to precipitate rare earth and thorium oxalates from a sulfate and phosphate solution of these elements. The object of the oxalate precipitation was to separate the thorium and rare earths from uranium, sulfate and phosphate ions. Since this method for processing monazite sands was so attractive, concerted effort was made to discover a method whereby the oxalic acid could be recycled.
Disciplines
Chemistry | Materials Chemistry
LEGAL NOTICEThis report was prepared as an account of Government sponsored work. Neither the United States, nor the Commission, nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission:A. Makes any warranty or representation, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information contained in this report, or that the use of any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report may not infringe privately owned rights; or B. Assumes any liabilities with respect to the use of, or for damages resulting from the use of any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report.As used in the above, "person acting on behalf of the Commission" includes any employee or contractor of the Commission to the extent that such employee or contractor prepares, handles or distributes, or provides access to, any information pursuant to his employment or contract with the Commission. This report has been reproduced directly from the best available copy. For the past ten yea. re, much effort has been expended by several research teams to develop an economic process for recovering thorium, rare earths and uranium from monazite sands.Recently, a process was developed at the Ames Laboratory which possessed many a.ttre.ctive features. The major disadvantage inherent to the process was the large cost for oxalic acid.The oxalic acid was used to precipitate rare earth and thorium oxalates from a sulfate and phospha. te solution of these elements. The object of the oxalate precipitation we.s to separate the thorium and rare earths from uranium, sulfate and phosphate ions. Since this method for processing mona.zi te sands was so attractive, concerted effort was made to discover a method whereby the oxalic acid could be recycled.A process was developed whereby the oxalate ions used to precipitate the mixed thorium and rare earth oxalates can be recycled. The mixed oxalates were digested with a 2.6 normal solution of sodium hydroxide for one hour at 96°C. The products of the reaction were the mixed hydroxides and a ~olution of sodium oxalate. Even though an excess of sodium hydroxide provided greater yields of sodium oxalate, it was found more economical to use a st...