UNCONVENTIONAL URANIUM RESOURCE IN THE PHILIPPINES: URANIUM EXTRACTION FROM PHOSPHORIC ACID PROJECT

Transcription

1 UNCONVENTIONAL URANIUM RESOURCE IN THE PHILIPPINES: URANIUM EXTRACTION FROM PHOSPHORIC ACID PROJECT Rolando Y. Reyes, Wendy G. Lim, Estrellita U. Tabora, Socorro P. Intoy, Edmundo P. Vargas, Botvinnik L. Palattao Nuclear Materials Research Section, Atomic Research Division IAEA Technical Meeting on Uranium from Unconventional Resources, Vienna, Austria, 4-7 November 2014.

2 BRIEF INTRODUCTION Philippine Nuclear Research Institute

3 DIRECTOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR Planning ATOMIC RESEARCH DIVISION NUCLEAR SERVICES DIVISION NUCLEAR REGULATORY DIVISION TECHNOLOGY DIFFUSION DIVISION FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION Agricultural Research Biomedical Research Health Physics Research Applied Physics Research Chemistry Research Nuclear Materials Research Nuclear Reactor Operations Engineering Services Irradiation Services Nuclear Analytical Techniques Isotope Techniques Radiation Protection Services Regulations and Standards Development Inspection and Enforcement Licensing, Review and Evaluation Nuclear Safeguards and Security Radiological Impact Assessment International Cooperation Nuclear Training Information and Library Services Management Information System Business Development Budget Accounting Property and Procurement Human Resource Management and Records and Communication General Services

4 NUCLEAR MATERIALS RESEARCH SECTION GENERAL FUNCTIONS 1. Conducts geo-nuclear studies on the search, recovery and processing of nuclear minerals/materials and other geochemically associated heavy elements. 2. Undertakes R&D on the application of radioactive materials in the mineral and metal industries. 3. Undertakes research using radioisotopes and nuclear techniques towards understanding the hydrological, hydrogeological, oceanographic and marine geological and geochemical processes such as sedimentation and siltation. 4. Carries out studies on the application of radioisotopes and nuclear techniques (e.g. gamma-ray spectrometer system) for mineral exploration. 5. Develops nuclear forensic analysis capabilities in support of nuclear material protection process so that in the event of an interdiction by Philippine law enforcement agencies involving illegal use or movement of radioactive material this capability may be used to develop and build a legal case against the perpetrators. 6. Conducts feasibility studies and pilot tests on the application of radioactive materials in the process industries. 7. Computerizes the compilation, recording, analysis and storage as well as map production of geo-nuclear data for public information dissemination. 8. Promotes collaborative researches with other national and local government including international agencies, universities and the private sector.

5 BRIEF HISTORY OF URANIUM EXTRACTION FROM PHOSPHORIC ACID

6 DEPA-TOPO METHOD (Hurst, 1977) developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory BRIEF HISTORY RESULTS Efficiency of Uranium Recovery Using DEPA- TOPO Process A. Phosphoric acid volume = 20 ml TRIAL % U Recovery ==== AVERAGE => 69.5 B. Phosphoric acid volume = 200 ml TRIAL % U Recovery ==== AVERAGE => 68.8 STUDY WAS UNFORTUNATELY DISCONTINUED

7 RENEWED INTEREST 2011 Renewed interest on UxP started when an invitation was received for an IAEA Training Meeting/Workshop on Uranium Recovery from Phosphates and Phosphoric Acid that was held in Marrakech, Morocco from 31 October 04 November About 1.17 million metric tons of phosphate raw ore per year is being imported and processed by the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation (Philphos) for the production of fertilizers. Negotiated in late February 2012 with Philphos to conduct study on the possibility of extracting U and other valuable elements from phosphoric acid. By June 2012, a National Concept Project entitled Enhancing National Capacity for Extraction of Uranium, Rare Earth Elements and Other Useful Commodities from Phosphoric Acid was submitted for the IAEA TC Project CY

8 While waiting for the approval of the IAEA TC project, sometime in late 2012, a goodwill visit was made at the Philphos plant in Isabel, Leyte. In-situ measurements inside the Philphos plant with the use of a portable RS-230 gamma ray spectrometer were conducted. Philphos Fertilizer Process Flowsheet Portable RS-230 Super Spec gamma ray spectrometer DR U Th WPA Tank (10m away from tank) μsv/h 13.9 ppm 1.3ppm RGW DR μsv/h U 21.4 ppm Th 4.2 ppm DR U Th Fluosilisic Acid μsv/h 91.8 ppm 3.1ppm Egypt Phosrock DR U Th DR U Th μsv/h 68.7 ppm 4.2 ppm Peru Phosrock μsv/h 60.1 ppm 5.2 ppm DR U Th Weak Acid 1.3 μsv/h 179 ppm 14.6 ppm Gypsum + PW DR μsv/h U 97.4 ppm Th 12.2 ppm CPT # 2 DR 17.0 μsv/h U 2398 ppm Th ppm CPT # 3 DR 25.6 μsv/h U 3564 ppm Th 408 ppm PG storage DR μsv/h U 40.1 ppm Th 7.5 ppm

9 LABORATORY RESULTS PHOSROCK SAMPLES TAKEN DURING THE GOODWILL VISIT IN 2012 SAMPLE FLUORIMETRIC ANALYSIS (Uppm) PORTABLE GAMMA RAY SPECTROMETRY (Uppm) EGYPTIAN PHOSROCK PERU PHOSROCK

10 LABORATORY RESULTS 2012 PHOSROCK SAMPLES SENT TO THE NUCLEAR MATERIALS RESEARCH LAB, PNRI SAMPLE FLUORIMETRIC ANALYSIS (Uppm) ALGERIAN PHOSROCK 57.9 EGYPT PHOSROCK 65.7 JORDAN PHOSROCK 93.9 PERU PHOSROCK 74.8

11 SAMPLES SENT TO THE NUCLEAR MATERIALS RESEARCH LAB, PNRI WPA FERTILIZER PRODUCTS ANALYSIS BY GAMMA SPECTROCOPY OF WPA Uppm 79.3 Uppm Fluorimetric Analysis of Fertilizer Products Fertilizer U (ppm)

12 Concentration of Uranium, Rare Earth, & Other Useful Elements from Wet Phosphoric Acid by ICP-MS Wet Phosphoric acid Concentration Egypt Peru U Th Y La Ce Nd Sm Eu Gd Dy Wet Phosphoric acid Concentration Egypt Peru V Zn Cr Ni Sr Cu As Cd Co On this basis, the results of the preliminary characterization carried out so far showed that the recovery of uranium and other valuable materials from wet phosphoric acid is a feasible undertaking.

13 A project proposal was also submitted in December 2012 to local a funding institution, the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) for CY to support our local financial requirement.

14 2013 Highlights for UxP ICP-MS results showed that the wet phosphoric acid contains Uranium ppm U, Vanadium ppm V, Chromium ppm Cr, Zinc ppm Zn, Strontium ppm Sr, Cadmium ppm Cd, Thorium ppm Th and Total Rare Earths ppm REE. The project phase Preliminary Characterization of the Phosphate Ores and Wet Phosphoric Acid from the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation was completed. The technical paper submitted to the Philippine Nuclear Journal entitled Preliminary Characterization of Uranium and Rare Earth in Phosphates and Wet Phosphoric Acid from a Fertilizer Plant was accepted and will be published this coming December Aside from the uranium content found, the wet phosphoric acid also contains valuable other elements, which may indicate a more economic benefit of extraction. The IAEA TC Project PHI2010 entitled Enhancing National Capacity for Extraction of Uranium, Rare Earth Elements and Other Useful Commodities from Phosphoric Acid was finally approved.

15 This newly approved IAEA TC Project PHI 2010 was formally started with the holding of an IAEA Expert Mission together with a successful two-day National Consultative Workshop (NCW) on Situation assessment for uranium extraction from phosphate for commercial industries at the PNRI Auditorium from May 19 23, The purpose of which is to engage active participation of all possible stakeholders and end-users, as well as for assessing the project s requirement and providing the start-up roadmap.

16 The newly approved IAEA TC Project whose main objective is to conduct laboratory-scale study on the possibility of extracting uranium, REE and other resources from the phosphoric acid from Philphos will provide basic instrumentation such as XRF and Fluorimeter to boost our aging laboratory capabilities. ATS 300GM Fluorimeter Supermini200 WDXRF Also, this IAEA TC Project will provide fellowship training for our Chemists, Metallurgists, and Chemical engineers on process development studies specifically on Uranium Extraction from Phosphoric Acid. We are searching for an establishment(s) from member state(s) who is(are) already in the commercial deployment or in the advance stage of experimentation that is(are) willing to host, train and share their experience and expertise. As for funding, the NRCP has just recently approved our submitted project proposal and funds were transferred last November 3, 2014, which also marks the start of the 2-year project.

17 Unfortunate Event Typhoon Yolanda hits the Philippines on November 8, 2013 PHILPHOS one-minute sustained winds of 315 km/h (195 mph) and gusts up to 378 km/h (235 mph)

18 Our Expected Output for will have to be moved to 2015 to beyond >>> 2015 UxP pre-feasibility studies performed (3 rd 4 th Quarter >>> 1 st 2 nd Q) 2015 >>> Technology selection and performance criteria agreed & published (1 st Quarter >>> 3 rd Q) Standard UxP operating procedures and comprehensive extraction issued (2 nd 3 rd Quarter >>> 4 th Q st Q2016) Multidisciplinary staff trained, with documented succession plan for key staff. (3 rd Quarter >>> 1 st Q2016) UxP pilot-plant design and engineering fully documented, based on the established flow sheet. (4 th Quarter >>> 2 nd Q2016)

19 The Philphos plant complex covers an area of 128 hectares within the 435-hectare Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE) in Isabel Leyte, Philippines.

20 Fertilizer industry Phosrock + Phosphoric Acid NPK Granulation Plant Sulfuric Acid Phosphogypsum Fertilizer Product Reaction: Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 + 3H 2 SO 4 + 6H 2 O ==> 2H 3 PO 4 + 3CaSO 4. 2H 2 O

21 A project proposal entitled Comprehensive Project Design and Management Methodologies for Optimising the Recovery of Uranium and Related Resources Using Integrated Minerals Processing Techniques and Technologies (C-PROMPT) was submitted under the Regional (nonagreement) IAEA TC Programme CY This project will be addressing the gaps in capability while progressing from laboratoryoriented studies to commercial scale activities. This proposal has been reviewed and screened by the IAEA Secretariat and it was recommended to proceed to the project design for final approval. All member states in the Asia and Pacific Region are enjoined to participate in this project. The Philippines also submitted a proposal under the IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) T11006 Uranium - Thorium fuelled High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors applications for energy neutral sustainable comprehensive extraction and mineral products development. Using Philippine data, Mr. Nils Haneklaus, the project coordinator of CRP T11006, recently submitted a scientific paper entitled Energy neutral phosphate fertilizer production using high temperature reactors - a Philippine case study to the Philippine Journal of Science.

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23 THANK YOU MARAMING SALAMAT