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Study of scandium and thorium sorption from uranium leach liquors

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Abstract

Scandium and thorium sorption from simulated uranium leach liquors by phosphorous containing ion exchange resins was studied. Increase of thorium concentration resulted in a decrease of scandium sorption by 26–65%. Tulsion CH 93 resin was chosen for Sc separation from uranium leach liquors. It was shown that 180 g L−1 Na2CO3 allowed for elution 94.1% of Sc and 98.9% of Th in dynamic conditions. Using (NH4)2SO4 (50 g L−1) + ACBM (180 g L−1) mixture for primary Sc/Th separation at the resin/eluent ratio of 1:5 resulted in thorium desorption degree as high as 66–69%, whereas scandium loss did not exceed 10%.

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Acknowledgements

Work was performed under contract with the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation of April 27, 2016 No 02.G25.31.0210.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rare Metals and Nanomaterials, Ural Federal University, 19, Mira Street, Yekaterinburg, 620002, Russia

    Alexey L. Smirnov, Svetlana M. Titova, Vladimir N. Rychkov, Grigory M. Bunkov, Eugeny V. Kirillov & Ilya A. Svirsky

  2. Department of Radiochemistry and Applied Ecology, Ural Federal University, 19, Mira Street, Yekaterinburg, 620002, Russia

    Vladimir S. Semenishchev

  3. Joint-Stock Company “Dalur”, 42, Lenina Street, Uksyanskoe, 641750, Russia

    Nikolay N. Poponin

Authors
  1. Alexey L. Smirnov
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  2. Svetlana M. Titova
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  3. Vladimir N. Rychkov
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  4. Grigory M. Bunkov
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  5. Vladimir S. Semenishchev
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  6. Eugeny V. Kirillov
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  7. Nikolay N. Poponin
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  8. Ilya A. Svirsky
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Correspondence to Vladimir S. Semenishchev.

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Smirnov, A.L., Titova, S.M., Rychkov, V.N. et al. Study of scandium and thorium sorption from uranium leach liquors. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 312, 277–283 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5234-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5234-x

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