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Natural radionuclide-free phosphoric acid production

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Abstract

High-uranium phosphate rock from Itataia, Brazil, was milled for wet-process phosphoric acid production using the dihydrate method. Uranium contained in the phosphoric acid was recovered by solvent extraction. The distribution of long-lived natural radionuclides of the 238U and 232Th decay series involved in these operations was evaluated. 226Ra, 228Ra and 210Pb were found to predominate in the phosphogypsum, while 228Th, 230Th and 232Th in the uranium-free phosphoric acid. Thorium is removed from the phosphoric acid by solvent extraction to produce a NORM-free phosphoric acid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear - Laboratório de Poços de Caldas - CNEN/DILAB, CP 913, 37701-970, Poços de Caldas MG, Brazil

    H. T. Fukuma & A. L. Quinelato

  2. Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo - CENA/USP, CP 96, 13400-970, Piracicaba SP, Brazil

    E. A. De Nadai Fernandes

Authors
  1. H. T. Fukuma
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  2. E. A. De Nadai Fernandes
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  3. A. L. Quinelato
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Fukuma, H.T., De Nadai Fernandes, E.A. & Quinelato, A.L. Natural radionuclide-free phosphoric acid production. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 257, 117–121 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024757612768

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