| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2024 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Energy Technologies and CO2 Management
|
| Presentation Title |
Low-energy Processing of a Local Boltwoodite Ore as Intermediate in Nuclear Fuel Cell |
| Author(s) |
Alafara Abdullahi Baba, Mustapha A. Raji, Kehinde I. Omoniyi, Shemang Y. Chindo, Aduagba G. Kareem, Abhilash, Pratima Meshram, Amudat Lawal, Folahan A. Adekola, Rasheed A. Agava, Bernard O. Ozigi |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Alafara Abdullahi Baba |
| Abstract Scope |
The industrial demand for pure uranium and uranium compounds is tremendously increasing due to its wide array of utilities most especially in nuclear industries. Consequently, the treatment of a local boltwoodite ore containing albite (Na2.00Al2.00Si6.00O16.00 : 96-900-1634), boltwoodite (Na2.00K2.77U3.00Si6.00O9.00H4.00 : 96-900-7219), thorite (Th4.00Si4.00O16.00 : 96-900-7625), and quartz (Si6.00O6.00 : 96-900-5019) was examined in sulphuric acid media. The experimental parameters such as leachant concentration, reaction temperature, and particle size on uranium ore dissolution were investigated. At optimal leaching conditions (2.5 mol/L H2SO4, 75 °C, 75 µm), an 89.1% dissolution rate was achieved within 120 minutes. The estimated activation energy of 20.70 kJ/mol supported the diffusion control reaction mechanism as the rate-determining step. The leach liquor obtained at established conditions was further beneficiated to produce an industrial grade sodium diuranate (Na2U2O7 : 00-064-0473, density = 6.51 g/cm3, melting point = 1654±2 ºC) proposed to serve as intermediate raw-material in nuclear fuel cell. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Extraction and Processing, Hydrometallurgy, Characterization |