Thorium fuel cycle in India : Production of Nuclear Grade Thorium Oxide from Monazite
Production of Nuclear Grade Thorium Oxide from Monazite
Thorium concentrate is obtained by caustic digestion of Monazite followed by selective leaching with HCl.
The thorium concentrate contains all the thorium and uranium values in the ore along with residual rare earths.
A 2 stage solvent extraction separation is carried out in nitrate media with 10% TBP for uranium recovery and then with 40% TBP whereby nuclear grade thorium nitrate is obtained.
Thorium is precipitated as oxalate which is calcined to obtain Nuclear Grade Thorium Oxide (Total impurity < 2ppb Boron Equivalent).
Process technology for production of nuclear grade thorium oxide has been developed.