RECOVERY OF URANIUM FROM CHATTANOOGA SHALE. Quarterly Progress Report

Published: United States : [publisher not identified], 1957.
[Oak Ridge, Tennessee] : [U.S. Atomic Energy Commission], 1957.
Physical Description: microopaque : positive ; 8 x 13 cm

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Summary

Increased retention time in countercurrent leaching yields a small increase in U extraction. An increase in time in the acid feed stage yields a slight increase in U extraction even though the time is decreased in the other stages. Rate experiments in C/sub 2/ pressure leaching show that the acid concentration attained is the major factor affecting extraction. pyrite oxidation and U extraction are substantially complete in 60 min. In systems of low terminal O/sub 2/ concentration a resolubilization of precipitated ferric compounds takes place with atiendant reduction to ferrous ions. The entrained- solids chlorinators were operated continuously for periods up to 8 hr. Data were obtained correlating weight loss and metal removals with residence time. Both chlorinators have been operated in an attempt to supply steady state product streams for evaluation of the fused-salt U separation method. The study of packed columns containing a fused mixture of KFeCl/sub 4/ and KAlCl/sub 4/ as U absorbent has continued. Loading and breakthrough data for runs up to 21 hr in length are reported. Control of the amount of fused salt in the column has been attempted by adjusting the temperature in the upper, refluxing section of the column. Experiments indicating that FeCl/ displaces free AlCl/sub 3/ from a KAlCl/sub 4/ melt may lead to a method for separating Fe from Al. The phase dianram for the system FeCl/sub 2/--KCl was determined and the existence of two compounds, KFeCl/sub 3/ and K/FeCl/sub 4/, demonstrated. Vapor pressure determinations for the systems KCl-- FeCl/sub 3/ and KCl --AlCl/sub 3/ have been carried out. Dissociation of the complexes KAlCl/sub 4/ and KFeCl/sub 4/ is indicated over a range of liquid compositions and temperatures. (auth)

Report Numbers

RMO-4011

Other Subject(s)

Collection

U.S. Atomic Energy Commission depository collection.

Note

DOE contract number: AT(49-1)-621
NSA number: NSA-12-005288
OSTI Identifier 4339395
Research organization: Columbia Univ., New York. Mineral Beneficiation Lab.

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