Abstract
The elution of uranyl carbonate from a strong base ion-exchange resin with an eluant composition of 1.0 M na2co3 plus 1.0 M nh4hco3 in a multicompartment fluidized column was evaluated. This work by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, was done in support of its goal of maintaining an adequate supply of minerals to meet national economic and strategic needs. The effects of solution flow rate, aqueous-to-resin flow ratio, initial resin concentration, and column length were examined. Comparisons were made of the steady-state column profiles, the final elution efficiency, and the final eluate grade at the various column operating conditions. The experimental data indicated that for the eluant composition examined, a 90-percent elution efficiency could be attained with a resin residence time of 240 minutes. Depending upon the initial resin concentration, the grade of eluate attainable ranged from 5 to 15 g/1 u3o8.
Source Name
Pres. At 1979 AIME Ann. Mtg., New Orleans, Louisiana, Feb. 18-22, 1979, AIME Preprint A-79-19
