Process for the chemical treatment of uraniferous ores containing sulfur compounds and/or organic components by alkaline leaching

Patent · Tue Jun 03 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5863412

Grenier, J; Lafforgue, P J; Rivoire, G

The invention relates to a process for the treatment of a uraniferous ore containing sulfur in the form of sulfates or sulfides with one or more alkaline solutions containing sodium carbonate in the presence of an oxidant, for extracting uranium in the form of soluble uranium salt in said solution. It comprises subjecting the ore, in a first step, to the action of a dilute pre-leach solution of sodium carbonate, whose concentration does not substantially exceed, or by very little, that which is required for the solubilization of the major part of the sulfur initially contained in the ore to convert it to sulfate in the presence of the oxidant and, in a second step, to the action of a leach solution, more concentrated in sodium carbonate, enabling the extraction and solubilization in the medium of the major part of the uranium still contained in the ore, not extracted in the pre-leach medium of the first step.

• Assignee: Generale Des Matieres Nucleaires (cogema)Cie (France)
• Patent Number(s): US 4206182
• OSTI ID: 5863412
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050400* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Feed Processing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
EXTRACTION
LEACHING
METALS
ORE PROCESSING
ORES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
URANIUM
URANIUM ORES