ANSTO :: Browsing by Author "Anvia, M"

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Management of NORM in the production of rare earths from monazite
(Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 2012-10-16) Anvia, M
The rare earth elements are of considerable technological importance. Demand for these elements is increasing and is expected to exceed 190 000 metric tons by 2015 [1]. Monazite is a rare-earth phosphate mineral which contains 50–68% rare earths and is an important source of the rare earth elements. However, monazite is an example of NORM which contains between 4–12% thorium and up to 0.5% uranium [2]. In a conventional industrial process, monazite concentrate is produced by physical beneficiation processes and the concentrate is then chemically processed using either an acid bake or a caustic cracking route followed by an acid leach to extract the desired rare earths. The radioactivity content of the monazite and the resulting process residues create a need to control exposure to workers and members of the public. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published several guidelines [3] on NORM management in the form of standards and regulations. The standards with respect to the extraction of rare earth elements from monazite in conventional industrial processes and the management of the contained radioactivity will be discussed.