On the Separation and Purification of Thorium by Amex Process

Abstract

The amine extraction (Amex) process can be used effectively for the extraction and separation of thorium from monazite liquor in which rare earths coexist about 10 times richer than thorium.
The results of batch tests on extraction of thorium with 0.18 M Primene JM-T as a solvent show that nuclear grade thorium can be produced by a proper choice of scrubbing solution if desired.
When 4 stages of scrubbing with 0.014M nitric acid solution are used, the content of rare earths in thorium decreases to less than 12 ppm.