Study on carbonation technology of alkaline uranium mother liquor

Abstract

The characteristics of the main components of alkaline uranium mother liquor: A small amount of uranium, a certain amount of hydroxide, and a large amount of carbonate. Through the analysis of chemical reaction and diffusion about transfer between mother liquor and CO2, the influencing factors of mother liquor carbonation were determined: Gas-liquid transfer, reactant concentration, reaction temperature, etc. Tower counter-current was selected to investigate the influence of different types of fillers on carbonation effect. The stainless steel triangular spiral filler was optimized. The filling tower device for carbonation of uranium mother liquor was finalized, which greatly improved the gas-liquid distribution efficiency and carbon dioxide absorption rate. The effect of residual alkali concentration and reaction temperature of mother liquor on carbonation effect was investigated. The technology realizes the conversion of sodium hydroxide to sodium carbonate in the mother liquor. When sodium carbonate is converted to sodium bicarbonate, it can be converted to the saturated concentration of sodium bicarbonate, and CO2 is absorbed in both stages. The device can be used to control the degree of carbonation of the mother liquor according to the demand, and be returned as leaching agent or eluent, realized the full reuse of the remaining alkali in the mother liquor.