Application of bacterial leaching technology to deep solution-mining conditions for uranium extraction. Final report, September 1, 1978-September 30, 1981

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5623854

Brierley, J A; Brierley, C L; Torma, A E

Microorganisms were evaluated for use in recovery of uranium under conditions of in-situ solution mining. The cultures tested were Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, the faculative-thermophilic TH3 strain, and two Sulfolobus species. Growth of the organisms occurred in the presence of 0.34 to 5.0 mM uranyl ion with higher concentrations being inhibitory. Uranium ore from the Anaconda Minerals Co. Jackpile mine was not readily leachable by microorganisms. To support bacterial activity the ore was supplemented with pyrite or ferrous iron. The ore possessed some toxic properties. T. ferrooxidans was able to assist in leaching of uranium from the ore at a hydrostatic pressure of 10.3 MPa.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro (USA); New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Socorro (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5623854
• Report Number(s): NP-2902698; EMD-2-68-3319; ON: DE82902698; TRN: 82-007764
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
BACTERIA
EVALUATION
THIOBACILLUS OXIDANS
URANIUM
LEACHING
URANIUM ORES
SOLUTION MINING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MEDIUM PRESSURE
PH VALUE
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
RECOVERY
TIME DEPENDENCE
ACTINIDES
BACILLUS
DATA
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
INFORMATION
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MINING
NUMERICAL DATA
ORES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
050300* - Nuclear Fuels- Mining- (-1987)