Treatment process for removing radioactive thorium from solvent extraction liquid effluent
US6991731B2 · kind B2 · utility
12Cited by
8References
8Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 23, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W30/50
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The liquid effluent from solvent extraction contains radioactive thorium Th-231 and Th-234. This invention uses an ion exchange process to remove and concentrate the thorium. The process is designed so that the thorium remains on the ion exchange column until it decays to uranium and protactinium. These decay products are subsequently replaced by additional thorium. Therefore, the thorium never reaches break-through and the column can be used continuously without regeneration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.