Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.80, No.3, 525-529, 2002
Removal of Th-230 by solvent extraction from high grade uranium ore liquid tailings to arrest Ra-226 production in the tailings
Primene JM-T, D2EHPA and TBP were used as solvents to extract Th-230 from sulphuric acid uranium leachate and barren solutions from a Saskatchewan, Canada uranium mill. This was done with the objective of eliminating the source for Ra-226 production in the tailings in perpetuity. A 0.1 vol% Primene JM-T, 5 vol% isodecanol (modifier), and kerosene diluent mixture was found to completely remove thorium from the solutions. The thorium was stripped from the loaded organic with a 15 wt% ammonium carbonate solution.