skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Processes for extraction of uranium and radium from uranium-containing ores using ferric nitrate

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6688085

A process is described for the extraction of both uranium and radium from uranium ores in the presence of an interfering sulfate ion resulting from the presence of sulfide therein by use of an aqueous ferric nitrate leachant including the steps of: (a) mechanically treating the finely ground ore for the removal of sulfide therefrom; (b) leaching the mechanically treated finely ground ore with aqueous acidic ferric nitrate solution in a concentration from 0.01 to 0.1M for the removal of uranium and radium therefrom to result in a liquid ferric nitrate leachate containing radium and uranium and a wet cake containing radium, uranium and ferric nitrate; (c) treating the ferric nitrate leachate to separate uranium and radium therefrom; (d) separately treating the wet cake for removal of retained ferric nitrate and the residual radium and uranium therefrom; and (e) recirculating a major portion of the ferric nitrate leachate from step (c) for the leaching of more of the mechanically treated finely ground ore.

Assignee:
NOV; NOV-87-051339; EDB-87-070824
Patent Number(s):
US 4649029
Application Number:
TRN: 87-014289
OSTI ID:
6688085
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 13 Apr 1984
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English