Process for the separation of radioactive impurities of baddeleyite

US4268485A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Dynamit Nobel GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Klaus Deneke
• Arnold Lenz · Kornwestheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 3, 1976
• Grant date: May 19, 1981
• Expiry date: Dec 3, 1996

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C01P2006/80
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for separating radioactive impurities from baddeleyite to obtain zirconium dioxide containing only traces of radioactive impurities, comprising grinding the baddeleyite preferably to a particle size of a maximum of 2% greater than 0.06 mm and then treating it directly with a 10 to 60% by weight aqueous alkali hydroxide solution at elevated temperatures below the boiling point of said solution at temperatures of 80.degree. to 140.degree. C. for 2 to 15 hours or until the desired degree of purity of the zirconium dioxide is obtained. In a preferred embodiment, sodium hydroxide is utilized and the ground baddeleyite preliminarily has been purified to the content of greater than 98% (zirconium dioxide+hafnium dioxide) by known methods.