In situ carbonate leaching and recovery of uranium from ore deposits

Patent · Tue May 22 00:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5692541

Hunkin, G G; Fife, T P; Stano, J R

Uranium is leached from redox roll ore deposits by selective in-situ leaching with a solution of pH 7.4 to 9 (preferably 7.5 to 8.5) containing from about 0.5 to 5g/l of NH/sub 4/HCO/sub 3/ and from about 0.1 to 3g/l of peroxide (preferably aqueous H/sub 2/O/sub 2/), and sufficient NH/sub 3/ to maintain the desired pH. The leach solution is then withdrawn from the ore deposit and contacted with a strong base anion exchange material to strip the uranium from the leach solution. The uranium is eluted from the anion exchange material by an aqueous eluant, and the uranium is recovered from the eluate by first acidifying it and then treating it with ammonia to produce a precipitate of relatively pure ammonium diuranate. The content of the three components in the stripped leach solution is adjusted, and then the leach solution is recirculated through the ore deposit. After the uranium ore is removed to the extent economically practicable, the leach solution is replaced with an aqueous reducing solution which when passed into the ore deposit precipitates and renders insoluble any uranium and elements such as vanadium, molybdenum, and selenium. This process produces above ground a very low volume of impurities and waste solutions requiring disposal and does not cause material contamination of the underground deposit or any aquifer associated with the deposit.

• Assignee: Wyoming Mineral Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 4155982
• Application Number: TRN: 80-000548
• OSTI ID: 5692541
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 9 Oct 1974
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
URANIUM ORES
SOLUTION MINING
AMMONIA
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM URANATES
CARBONATES
ION EXCHANGE
LEACHING
PEROXIDES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
DISSOLUTION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MINING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
ORES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
URANATES
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
050400* - Nuclear Fuels- Feed Processing