Canadian Patents & Development Ltd.

Canadian Patents and Development Limited/societe Canadienne Des Brevets

Majesty in Right of Canada As Represented by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources

Bale, Christopher W.

Skeaff, James M.

Kirchnerova, Jitka

James M Skeaff

Gordon M Ritcey

Bernard H Lucas

Jitka Kirchnerova

Kazi E Haque

Christopher W Bale

A potentiometric electrochemical sensor for detecting gaseous concentrations of arsenic oxides or arsenic-bearing species at elevated temperatures. The sensor is comprised of: an ionically conducting solid state membrane which may be made of silver zirconium arsenate, sodium beta-alumina or silver beta-alumina; a reference electrode which may be silver wire packed in silver powder; and a working electrode which may consist of a platinum mesh electrode or a silver wire exposed to the arsenic oxide-bearing gas. The probe is responsive to arsine [AsH.sub.3 ] concentrations in the range 5-1000 ppm in oxidizing gases, such as air, which have been raised to the temperature range 600.degree.-900.degree. C. The compound silver zirconium arsentate is also novel.

Solid state arsenic probe for use in pyrometallurgical processes

Uranium ores, concentrates, calcines or tailings are processed to remove radium and thorium as well as uranium. Selected ores, concentrates or tailings, or if more appropriate, chlorination calcines thereof, are leached by selected aqueous chlorine-containing media (preferably in two stages) until uranium, radium and thorium are substantially all dissolved, with the insoluble residual solids being suitable for disposal. The leach solution is treated to recover sequentially uranium, usually thorium, and radium by selected techniques. The radium recovered can be disposed of in any environmentally-acceptable manner. The amount of iron in the residual leach liquor should be controlled to avoid iron build-up, with the barren leach solution being suitable for recycle.

Uranium ore processing

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Ottawa, Canada

James M Skeaff