Treatment of uranium waste liquors by the high density sludge process

Tapsell, GJ; Ring, RJ; Collier, DE

Treatment of uranium waste liquors by the high density sludge process

Date

1998-09-28

Authors

Tapsell, GJ

Ring, RJ

Collier, DE

Publisher

Institution of Engineers Australia

Abstract

The treatment of acidic waste liquors is often carried out in a conventional neutralisation circuit using lime as reagent. The High Density Sludge (HDS) process improves this technology by recycling conditioned thickener underflow to modify the precipitate particle formation, leading to an increase in the density of the settled solids. The treatment of two waste liquors from uranium ore processing were tested in both conventional and HDS circuits. The HDS process consumed more reagent than the conventional treatment but improved the quality and quantity of treated effluent for recycle. Tests on the liquors have indicated a marked increase in sludge density using the HDS process compared to conventional treatment. In both cases no change in the particle size was observed, indicating that the HDS solids contain less water in a more compact structure. The increased solids content of the HDS sludge ensured higher filtration rates than the conventionally produced sludge, and allowed filter cakes of lower moisture content to be produced.

Description

Physical copy held at DDC: 660.20994/13.

Keywords

Radioactive wastes, Uranium, Sludges, Reagents, Solids, Ore processing, Particle size, ANSTO

Citation

Tapsell, G. J., Ring, R. J., & Collier, D. E. (1998). Treatment of uranium waste liquors by the high density sludge process. Paper presented to Chemeca 98 : creating competetive resources : the 26th Australasian Chemical Engineering conference, Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia, 28-30 September 1998. In Chemeca 98 Proceedings, Port Douglas, 28-30 September 1998.