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Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Oxide Zirconium from Zircon Sand

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Abstract

Technologically Enhanced Natural Radioactive Material (TENORM) contamination is a serious health problem. In applying safe zirconium oxide (ZrO2) in the industrial sector, it is necessary to have environmentally friendly ZrO2, namely very low radioactivity (< 1 Bq/g) and TENORM free. This study aims to obtain a ZrO2 with very low radioactivity and TENORM-free. The synthesis of ZrO2 consists of optimizing the smelting of zircon sand, leaching sodium zirconate, precipitation of impurities including TENORM, precipitation of zirconium hydroxide, and calcination. The ZrO2 was characterized by XRD, FTIR, FE–SEM–EDS, and Alpha–Beta Radioactivity Counter. The characterization composition with XRF and NAA methods shows a ZrO2 purity of 97% and TENORM-free, with very low radioactivity (0.031 Bq/g), far below the maximum standard (1 Bq/g). This synthesis method can increase the concentration of ZrO2 from 41 to 97% and decrease TENORM (U3O8 from 470 ppm becomes undetectable, and ThO2 from 680 ppm becomes undetectable).

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Mr. Ir. Gede Sutresna Wijaya, M.Eng, who has approved the 2020 DIPA of the Accelerator Science and Technology Center to finance this research. The author also thanks Devi Swasti Prabasiwi, ST, and Dewi Puspa Aryani, AMd. who have helped a lot with this research to completion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center of Mining Technology, Research Organization of Nanotechnology and Materials, National Research and Innovation Agency, Tanjung Bintang, Indonesia

    Samin, Widi Astuti, Herry Poernomo & Amru Daulay

  2. Research Center for Accelerator Technology, Research Organization of Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

    Sajima

  3. Directorate of Laboratory Management, Research Facilities, and Science and Technology Park, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia

    Kharistya Rozana

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  1. Samin
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Correspondence to Samin or Kharistya Rozana.

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Samin, Astuti, W., Poernomo, H. et al. Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Oxide Zirconium from Zircon Sand. J. Sustain. Metall. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-024-00845-y

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