Dissolution of sintered thorium dioxide in phosphoric acid using autoclave and microwave methods with detection by gamma spectrometry

A quantitative and fast method of dissolution of refractory thoria (ThO2) was developed for the determination of thorium (Th) in a given sample. The dissolution of sintered ThO2 powder, microspheres and pellets using 88% phosphoric acid was investigated. The conditions of quantitative dissolution of ThO2 microspheres were optimized by conventional heating in autoclave and also by microwave heating. 100 mg of sintered ThO2 microspheres were dissolved in 8 g of phosphoric acid in an autoclave, and heating at 170 °C for 3 h, in comparison to 5 g of phosphoric acid by microwave heating (375 W) at 220 °C for 1 h. Dissolution studies on the powder form of sintered ThO2 were also performed. 1 g of sintered ThO2 powder could be dissolved in 6.5 g of phosphoric acid in autoclave heating at 170 °C for 1 h. Strong complexing of (PO4)3− with Th4+ may be the influencing factor for quantitative dissolution of ThO2.