Study of aluminothermic slag leaching for uranium and thorium recovery

VANDERLEI VILAÇA MOURA; Talita Santos; Claubia Pereira

doi:10.15392/2319-0612.2022.2002

Study of aluminothermic slag leaching for uranium and thorium recovery

Authors

VANDERLEI VILAÇA MOURA Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear, Escola de Engenharia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Talita Santos UFMG - Faculdade de Medicina - MED-DEPTO DE ANATOMIA E IMAGEM
Claubia Pereira UFMG - Escola de Engenharia - Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15392/2319-0612.2022.2002

Keywords:

uranium oxide, thorium oxide, leaching

Abstract

The need for energy by modern society is increasing. On the other hand, it is necessary to reduce costs and environmental impact. In this perspective, the recovery of uranium present in industrial waste from the processing of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) appears as a possible complement to the mining stage of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle. NORM's uranium recovery can reduce environmental liabilities and mineral processing costs (especially blasting, crushing, and grinding). The industrial residue of this study, a type of aluminothermic slag, comes from the metallurgical processing of columbite (niobium and tantalum mineral) and has a content, measured by X-ray fluorescence, of 1.78% of U₃O₈. This content is higher, for example than those found in Lagoa Real-BA (0.2% in rock) and Santa Quitéria-CE (0.1% in rock). Another material that will be studied is ThO₂, which is also present in the slag with a content, measured by X-ray fluorescence, around 3.66%. The process parameters analyzed were pH of the solution, time, granulometry and percentage of solids. The metallurgical recovery of U₃O₈ reached a maximum value of 71,3% with pH = 1, time of 8 hours, 65 % percentage of solids, and 200 µm of granulometry. The metallurgical recovery of ThO₂ reached a maximum value of 69,7% with pH = 1, time of 8 hours, 65 % percentage of solids, and 200 µm of granulometry.

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Author Biography

VANDERLEI VILAÇA MOURA, Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear, Escola de Engenharia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Doutorando em Ciências e Técnicas Nucleares (Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear UFMG). Mestre em Ciências e Técnicas Nucleares (Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear UFMG). Título da dissertação: Avaliação da Radioatividade Natural do Granito Madeira - Região Norte do Amazonas. Supervisor de Proteção Radiológica área de mineração NORM (CNEN-MI005) e medidores nucleares (CNEN-MN1515). Possui graduação em Física pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (1999). Atualmente atua como supervisor de proteção radiológica - Mineração Taboca. Tem experiência na área de Física, com ênfase em PROTEÇÃO RADIOLÓGICA, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: proteção radiológica, dosimetria, papel da divulgação científica, ensino de ciências e divulgação da ciência. Atuou como professor de ensino médio de matemática e física durante 10 anos. Atuou como coordenador pedagógico e coordenador da área de ciências da natureza, matemática e suas tecnologias. Aprovado no mestrado em ensino de física - PUC Minas (interrompido). Tem experiência na área de Física, com ênfase em PROTEÇÃO RADIOLÓGICA, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: proteção radiológica, dosimetria, descomissionamento, mínero-industrial e atividade específica.

References

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Published

2022-12-04

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3B (Suppl.) (2022): XV ENAN 2021

Section

INAC 2021_XV ENAN

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How to Cite

Study of aluminothermic slag leaching for uranium and thorium recovery. Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, v. 10, n. 3B (Suppl.), 2022. DOI: 10.15392/2319-0612.2022.2002. Disponível em: https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2002. Acesso em: 22 dec. 2024.