Integrated Technology for Processing of Apatite Concentrate.

A technology is proposed for processing of apatite concentrates by decomposition by phosphoric acid at 20°C in the presence of a sulfonic cation-exchange resin, defluorination of the obtained phosphoric acid, desorption of the sorbed cations with concentrated solutions of alkali metal salts, sequential hydrolytic precipitation of the thorium-enriched impurity cake and nonradioactive concentrate of carbonates of rare-earth and alkaline-earth elements, and regeneration of the sulfonic cation cation-exchange resin from the Na+ form to the H+ form. It is shown that the technology is also applicable for the processing of apatite concentrate with a high content of rare-earth elements and strontium. The technology ensures the recovery of all valuable components into commercial products while minimizing the consumption of reagents and energy, the amount of generated waste, and the environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]