Improved Process for Treating Ores of Radium, Mesothorium, Thorium and other Radio-active Substances.

摘要

28,445. Ebler, E. Feb. 27, [Convention date]. Heating ores under exclusion of air; thermoaluminic and like mixtures. - Ores and inter-. mediate products containing radium, mesothorium, &c. or thorium in the form of oxygen salts such as sulphates, phosphates, and silicates are treated for the,removal of the oxygen with substances such as calcium hydride, calcium, magnesium, or aluminium which, after the reaction is started, do not require a supply of external heat. Calcium hydride is particularly suitable for treating the crude sulphates and is used in quantity sufficient to .leave the hydrogen free, which renders the mass porous. Calcium, magnesium, and aluminium are suitable for reducing the silicates and phosphates. An igniting mixture may be used consisting of 40 parts barium peroxide, 7 parts potassium chlorate, and 10 parts aluminium dust. The examples describe the reduction of sulphate residues from carnotite and autunite with calcium hydride, the product being extracted with hydrochloric acid and crude chlorides being obtained by crystallization or by precipitation by gaseous hydrochloric acid, and the reduction of monazite sand with magnesium and calcium hydride.