Skip to main content
Log in

Purification of thorium by precipitation

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A precipitation method was applied to produce high-purity thorium product from industrial grade Th(NO3)4·4H2O. The conditions of pH in the thorium solution, the contents of hydrogen peroxide, calcination temperature were investigated as well as calcination time. The hydrogen peroxide of 30% (v:v) was added into the thorium solution and was continually stirred. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide was exceeded over 0.1–0.5 mol/L after suitable reaction between Th(NO3)4·4H2O and hydrogen peroxide. The pH of the solution was maintained at 2 through adding ammonium hydroxide. The precipitation obtained in the form of Th2O7·4H2O. The high-purity thorium product was prepared after calcination for 2 h at 700 °C. The purity of the purified thorium product was above 99.8%.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Salehuddin AHJM, Ismail AF, Bahri CNACZ et al (2019) Economic analysis of thorium extraction from monazite. Nucl Eng Technol 51(2):631–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Al-Areqi WM, Bahri CNACZ, Majid AA et al (2017) Solvent extraction of thorium from rare earth elements. Malaysia J Anal Sci 21:1250–1256

    Google Scholar 

  3. Amaral JCBS, Carlos A (2010) Thorium and uranium extraction from rare earth elements in monazite sulfuric acid liquor through solvent extraction. Morais Miner Eng 23:498–503

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Youcai Lu, Wei H, Zhang Z et al (2016) Selective extraction and separation of thorium from rare earths by a phospho-rodiamidate extractant. Hydrometallurgy 163:192–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Peizhuo Hu, Qian L, He Y et al (2013) Solvent extraction of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) by N,N′-di-p-tolylpyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide from nitric acid solution. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 297:133–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Eskandari Nasab M (2014) Solvent extraction separation of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) with neutral organophosphorus and amine ligands. Fuel 116:595–600

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Eskandari Nasab M, Sam A, Alamdar Milani S (2011) Determination of optimum process conditions for solvent extraction of thorium using Taguchi method. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 287:239–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Michaud S, Miguirditchian M, Deblonde G et al (2012) Modelling of thorium extraction by TBP. Procedia Chem 7:251–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Takata H, Zheng J, Tagami K et al (2011) Determination of 232Th in seawater by ICP-MS after preconcentration and separation using a chelating resin. Talanta 85:1772–1777

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Xu Q-H, Ding S-Y, Pan D-Q et al (2015) A multisite-functionalised polymer for theextraction of thorium(IV ) from water. RSC Adv. 5:39903–39907

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Korkisch J, Tera F (1961) Separation of thorium by anion exchange. Anal Chem 33(9):1264–1266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lin C, Wang H, Wang Y et al (2010) Selective solid-phase extraction of trace thorium(IV) using surface-grafted Th(IV)-imprinted polymers with pyrazole derivative. Talanta 81:30–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Peterson DT, Schmidt FA (1971) Preparation of high purity thorium and thorium single crystals. J Less Common Metals 24:223–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sadri F, Rashchi F, Amini A (2017) Hydrometallurgical digestion and leaching of Iranian monazite concentrate containing rare earth elements Th, Ce, La and Nd. Int J Miner Process 159:7–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhu Z, Pranolo Y, Cheng CY (2015) Separation of uranium and thorium from rare earths for rare earth production. A review. Miner Eng 77:185–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Hui-wu Liu, Zu-jun Shu for providing support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guo-long Guo.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guo, Gl., Lu, Y., Yang, Dd. et al. Purification of thorium by precipitation. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 327, 667–671 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07543-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07543-5

Keywords

Navigation