Uranium leaching followed by bio Sorption using A. clavatus of Gattar ore

Abstract

The main objective of this work focused on choosing the most suitable conditions to leachuranium out from its mineral oresin G. Gattar Area, Northern Eastern Desert, Egypt. A sequence of primary experiments was conducted to select the most effective conditions for U extraction. The results showed that these conditions were usage of sulfuric acid at a concentration of 6molar, pH value of 2, contact time of 60 minutes, temperature of 100 ֩ C. Aspergillus clavatus fungi were tried as a new bio-sorbent of uranium ions. The appropriate factors to achieve the highest sorption efficiency of U by these fungi were studied and found to be 1 hour contact at pH 4, centrifugation speed of 300 rpm, and temperature of100 ֩ C.The aforementioned indicate that the combination between leaching uranium by sulfuric acid and its bio-sorption by Aspergillus clavatus can be considered as a promising technique for removal or ,at least, reduction of uranium concentration in uranium-contaminated regions such as G, Gattar ,Northern Eastern Desert, Egypt.