Study on thorium recovery from bastnaesite treatment process

Thorium (Th) stripping behavior from HEH/EHP (2-(ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester) with H2SO4, HCl and HNO3 were investigated. The results indicated that H2SO4 was the most effective stripping reagent compared with HCl and HNO3. Selecting H2SO4 as the stripping reagent, the effect of phase ratio, acidity, H2SO4 amount, HEH/EHP concentration and Th loading in HEH/EHP on Th stripping were systematically investigated. As a result, the optimum stripping conditions of Th(IV) were obtained as the concentration of H2SO4 solution was 3.50 mol/L, phase ratio was 4:1. Low HEH/EHP concentration was benefit for Th stripping. Based on the results, pilot test for new Bastnaesite treatment process was carried out and the recovery of Ce, F and Th were more than 99%, 98% and 95% separately.