preparation of u3o8 by calcination from ammonium uranyl carbonate using response surface methodology: process optimization

The parameters to prepare u3o8 by calcination from ammonium uranyl carbonate were optimized by using response surface methodology. a quadratic equation model for the value of total uranium and u^4+ of triuranium octaoxide was built and the effects of main factors and their corresponding relationships were obtained. the statistical analysis of the results indicated that the value of total uranium and u^4+ of triuranium octaoxide was significantly affected by the calcination temperature and calcination time in this study range. the optimized calcination conditions were determined as follows: the calcination temperature 961.6 k, the calcination time 27.9 min, and the mass of material 37.86 g, respectively. under these conditions, the value of total uranium and u^4+ of triuranium octaoxide was 84.29% and 28.14%. the validity of the model was confirmed experimentally and the results were satisfactory.