Abstract
The industrial demand for pure uranium and uranium compounds is tremendously increasing due to its wide array of utilities most especially in nuclear industries. Consequently, the treatment of a local boltwoodite ore containing albite (Na2.00Al2.00Si6.00O16.00: 96-900-1634), boltwoodite (Na2.00K2.77U3.00Si6.00O9.00H4.00: 96-900-7219), thorite (Th4.00Si4.00O16.00: 96-900-7625), and quartz (Si6.00O6.00: 96-900-5019) was examined in sulphuric acid media. The experimental parameters such as leachant concentration, reaction temperature, and particle size on uranium ore dissolution were investigated. At optimal leaching conditions (2.5 mol/L H2SO4, 75 °C, and 75 µm), an 89.1% dissolution rate was achieved within 120 min. The estimated activation energy of 20.70 kJ/mol supported the diffusion control reaction mechanism as the rate-determining step. The leach liquor obtained at established conditions was further beneficiated to produce an industrial grade sodium diuranate (Na2U2O7: 00-064-0473, density = 6.51 g/cm3, melting point = 1654 ± 2 ℃) proposed to serve as intermediate raw-material in a nuclear fuel cell.
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Acknowledgements
The authors sincerely thank the (i) Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; (ii) University of Ilorin administration under a dynamic Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN; and (iii) TETFund, Nigeria for their immeasurable support to attend and present this distinct research at the 153rd Annual Meeting and Exhibition of The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS2024) held in Orlando, Florida, USA between 3rd–7th March 2024. Also, one of the authors (Prof. Alafara A. Baba, the Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria) is grateful to the TMS EPD Council for their kind support.
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Baba, A.A. et al. (2024). Low-Energy Processing of a Local Boltwoodite Ore as Intermediate in Nuclear Fuel Cell. In: Iloeje, C., et al. Energy Technology 2024. TMS 2024. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50244-6_6
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