Immobilization of U-Th-Ra in mine wastes by phosphate mineralization

Abstract

ESCA spectroscopy shows that U and Ba (cf. Ra) are strongly absorbed on apatite. Large, reactive surfaces of apatite have been created by partial replacement of calcite and gypsum by phosphate solutions at the 300 ppm level. When typical waste effluents from a uranium mine are treated with such active phosphatic materials, radium-leach values are reduced to levels below 0.1 pCi/L.--Modified journal abstract.