INVESTIGATION OF THE SORPTION OF URANIUM ON THE MINERALS OF THE SURROUNDING ROCKS

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1964 · At. Energ. (USSR)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01131722· OSTI ID:4043357

Alkhazashvili, G M; Nevskii, B V; Arkharova, I I

During the hydrometallurgical treatment of U ores, a certain portion of the U is lost on the solid tailings. Although it was assumed that these losses are due to sorption of the U on the surface of the mineral particles, there was no experimental evidence to support this view. Tests were therefore carried on the sorption mechanlsm of U during the leaching treatment on montmorillonite, kaolinite, bauxite, hydrated mica, and albite; these minerals are weak adsorbers with their sorptive capacity decreasing in the above-given order. The effect of time of contact, pH, concentration of the solution, and temperature on the sorption mechanism was investigated. It was found that at a U and H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ concentration of 0.24 to 0.26 and 9 to 12 g/liter, respectively, the sorption capacity increases with time, reaching in 30 minutes 0.35, 0.3, and 0.1 mg. equivalents/ 100 g of the mineral, for the montmorillonite, kaolinite, and bauxite, respectively. A further increase of the time of cortact reduced somewhat the capacity of the montmorillonite; that of the kaolinite was reduced sixfold while that of albite approached zero. The sorptive capacity of the minerals was lowest at pH ranging from 0.5 to 1; a considerable increase was noted at pH = 4. The temperature had a positive effect as it was increased from 20 to 50 deg C and a negative effect upon further increase to 80 deg C. Sulfate, nitrate, and chloride solutions desorbed the U from the surface of the solids. Inasmuch as the sorption is an ion exchange reaction, the extraction of U from clay minerals may be improved by using ion exchange resins. (TTT)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-18-017943
• OSTI ID: 4043357
• Journal Information: At. Energ. (USSR), Journal Name: At. Energ. (USSR) Vol. Vol: 16
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: Russian

Related Subjects

ACIDITY
ADSORPTION
ALBITE
ALUMINUM OXIDES
ALUMINUM SILICATES
ALUMINUM SULFATES
BAUXITES
CHEMISTRY
CHLORIDES
CLAYS
DIAGRAMS
FELDSPARS
GRAIN SIZE
ION EXCHANGE
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
KAOLINITE
LEACHING
LOSSES
MEASURED VALUES
METALLURGY
MICA
MINERALS
MONTMORILLONITE
NITRATES
ORE PROCESSING
PERFORMANCE
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTION KINETICS
RESIDUES
RESINS
SODIUM SILICATES
SOLIDS
SOLUTIONS
SULFATES
SULFURIC ACID
SURFACES
TABLES
TEMPERATURE
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM ORES
USES
WATER