BARC/PUB/2016/1405

 
 

Gangue minerals reactivity in oxidative leaching of uraninite with dilute sulfuric acid from low-grade ores: an approach for better leach liquor purity

 
     
 
Author(s)

Madakkaruppan, V.; Pius, A.; Sreenivas, T.; and others
(MPD-Hyd)

Source

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2016. Vol. 309: pp. 493-501

ABSTRACT

This paper presents results of sulfuric acid leaching studies carried out on a low-grade uranium ore with emphasis on attaining maximum uranium leachability with minimum content of detrimental ions like Si, Al, Fe, Mg and P, which originate from reactive gangue minerals like chlorite, biotite and apatite. A ‘‘two-stage leaching’’ scheme was developed wherein the total reaction time and the pH of the slurry were split such that the initial phase consists of higher acidity with shorter reaction period and the later phase involves reduced acidity and longer reaction time. This modification gives leach liquor of higher purity with good uranium leachability at relatively lower acid consumption.

 
 
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