Study on the optimal neutral leaching on a high carbonate sandstone-type uranium ore

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 333; no. 8; pp. 4039 - 4048
• Main Authors: Chen, Gongxin, Huang, Gonglin, Ma, Chengcui, Wei, Xuebin, Liu, Yuanyuan, Liu, Jinhui, Fang, Yong, Zhang, Yingying, Lai, Lina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diagnostic Radiology; Gas pressure; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Inorganic Chemistry; Leaching; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear Physics; Physical Chemistry; Process parameters; Recovery; Sandstone; Uranium; Uranium ores; Sandstone-type uranium ore; Uranium leaching recovery; Neutral leaching; Process parameters
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-024-09546-y

Optimization of process parameters are key factors for leaching unramium ore, particularly, some high carbonate sandstone-type uranium ore with neutral leaching (CO 2  + O 2 ) method. In our study, batch leaching of uranium ore from Chaixinan region Qaidam Basin China were conducted under various NH 4 HCO 3 concentrations, CO 2 :O 2 , gas pressure, and liquid–solid. The results indicated that pH and HCO 3 − are the key factors for uranium leaching recovery. The process parameters were HCO 3 − 800 mg/L, CO 2 :O 2 ratio 1:10, gas pressure 0.2 MPa, and liquid–solid 5:1, which achieved the highest uranium leaching recovery.