A Novel Process for Extraction of Uranium from Monazite of Red Sediment Using Activated Carbon of Waste Tyres Source

Abstract

Monazite of red sediments source was digested with sulphuric acid, and the grey paste was dissolved in water. After separating the rare earths, aqueous solution bearing uranium and thorium was contacted with activated carbon produced from waste tyres through pyrolysis to adsorb uranium selectively. The process is unique as dilute feed solution containing very low concentration of uranium could be concentrated through activated carbon bed. Eluted uranyl nitrate solution was subsequently precipitated as ammonium diuranate in its pure state. The process can be an alternative to the existing solvent extraction process and can be efficiently used to concentrate uranium present in dilute leach solutions as well as in effluents and contaminated water. More research aimed at process optimisation is needed to utilise waste tyres as a source of activated carbon on industrial scale for concentrating valuable uranium which otherwise is difficult to extract by other known methods.