Abstract
Abstract This paper presents laboratory data on the effectiveness of a severe leaching system, sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and an oxidant, in recovering uranium from refractory Crown-point uranium ore. A strong mineral acid, such as H2SO4, plus an oxidant, such as oxygen or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), should be able to degrade the kerogen associated with uranium in slow-leaching uranium ores to expose the uranium mineral to leachate contact. Scoping-batch leach tests show that an H2SO4, ferric ion leachate gives good recoveries at a fast rate from Crown-point refractory ore. A composite core was fabricated with this refractory ore. A leachate of 0.5% H2SO4, 24.5 g/L Na2SO4, 1 g/L NaCl, and 0.2 g/L CO2 with 800 psig [5516 kPa] O2 gave 65% recovery of uranium from this core in about 30 PV's. This is almost double the recovery obtained from a similar core with a mild leaching system (O2/bicarbonate) in the same number of PV's. Plugging, which occurred twice during the leach run, appears to be related to movement of feldspar and quartz fines. Chemical consumption was fairly high in these H2SO4 experiments.
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