Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Thorium Between Removing, Recovery and Recycling: A Membrane Challenge for Urban Mining

Geani Teodor Man
,
Paul Constantin Albu
ORCID logo ,
Aurelia Cristina Nechifor
ORCID logo ,
Alexandra Raluca Grosu
,
Szidonia-Katalin Tanczos
,
Vlad-Alexandru Grosu
* ORCID logo ,
Mihail-Răzvan Ioan
ORCID logo ,
Gheorghe Nechifor
*
Version 1 : Received: 15 July 2023 / Approved: 17 July 2023 / Online: 18 July 2023 (13:36:38 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Man, G.T.; Albu, P.C.; Nechifor, A.C.; Grosu, A.R.; Tanczos, S.-K.; Grosu, V.-A.; Ioan, M.-R.; Nechifor, G. Thorium Removal, Recovery and Recycling: A Membrane Challenge for Urban Mining. Membranes 2023, 13, 765. Man, G.T.; Albu, P.C.; Nechifor, A.C.; Grosu, A.R.; Tanczos, S.-K.; Grosu, V.-A.; Ioan, M.-R.; Nechifor, G. Thorium Removal, Recovery and Recycling: A Membrane Challenge for Urban Mining. Membranes 2023, 13, 765.

Abstract

Although a slightly radioactive element, thorium is considered very toxic because its various species, which reach the environment, can constitute an important problem for the health of the population. The present paper aims to expand the possibilities of using membrane processes in the removal, recovery and recycling of thorium from industrial residues reaching the municipal waste processing platforms. The paper includes a short introduction on the interest shown for this element, a weak radioactive metal, followed by highlighting of some common (domestic) uses. In a distinct but concise part, the bio-medical impact of thorium is presented. The classic technologies for obtaining thorium are concentrated in a single schema, and then the speciation of thorium is presented with an emphasis on the formation of hydroxo-complexes and complexes with common organic reagents. The determination of thorium has been highlighted both on the basis of its radioactivity, but especially through methods that call for extraction followed by an established electrochemical, spectral or chromatographic method. Membrane processes are presented based on the electrochemical potential difference, rapidly presenting barro-membrane processes, electrodialysis, liquid membranes and hybrid processes. A separate sub-chapter is devoted to proposals and recommendations for the use of membranes in order to achieve some progress in urban mining for the valorization of thorium.

Keywords

thorium removing; thorium recovery, thorium recycling; thorium separation, thorium transport; thorium separation; thorium membrane separation; thorium membrane concentration; thorium determination

Subject

Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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