Abstract
Brazil has one of the biggest mineral thorium reserves, enabling the use of this material in its nuclear reactors. Consequently, this cycle of the fuel would need an initial purification stage of the natural thorium, generating residues from chemical treatment. This work provides operational parameters for the recovery of existing values in these residues, especially the radiogenic lead, that is a radioisotope of thorium decay chain, using ionic exchange technique associated to the electrochemical one. The treatment by ionic exchange in anionic resin and hydrochloric acid medium, provides about 33.4% of radiogenic lead. At the electrochemical process, lead was reduced to a metal in nitric acid medium, presenting a recovery of 98%. The electrochemical process presents an increase in the cost, nevertheless the technological importance of the radiogenic lead in the production of new elements, besides being a strategic material, justifies its use.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
