Recovery of Thourium from Phosphogypsum by Acid Leaching

T. Mashifana, Thabo Falayi, Freeman Ntuli, Jessica Sebothoma

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Phosphogypsum (PG), a waste material readily available in large quantities, is generated in the wet process of phosphoric acid production. Due to the contaminants in the material and the radioactivity of PG, the use of this material has limitations. South African phosphogypsum (from Phalaborwa) contains high levels of thorium that could be recovered for industrial use. The study was conducted to determine the best acid for leaching thorium from phosphogypsum; to investigate the effect of solid to liquid ratios and of concentration on the efficiency of the process; and to study the effect of contact time on the thorium recovered from the leaching process. Thorium was recovered from phosphogypsum by leaching the samples with strong acids under specified controlled and manipulated variables. 98% sulphuric, 32% hydrochloric and 55% nitric acid were compared to identify the best leaching reagent. The solid to liquid ratios studied were 2%, 5% and 10%. The acid concentrations investigated were 2 M, 5 M and 10 M. Nitric acid proved to be the best leaching reagent among the investigated acids, recovering 0.07486 g of Th/ kg of PG. The lowest concentration of 2 M recovered more thorium (0.06117 g of Th/ kg of PG); while a higher solid loading yielded more thorium (10% loading recovered 0.04453 g of Th/ kg of PG).
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2018
EventEngineering Conferences International: BENEFICIATION OF PHOSPHATES VIII - Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Duration: Apr 29 2018May 4 2018

Conference

ConferenceEngineering Conferences International
Abbreviated titleECI
Country/TerritorySouth Africa
CityStellenbosch
Period4/29/185/4/18

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