Synergetic Oxidation in Alkaline In-Situ Leaching Uranium: A Preliminary Case Study

Abstract

In alkaline in-situ leaching uranium, oxygen is the most common oxidizer with bicarbonate as a complexing agent. For those sandstone uranium deposits with strongly reductive capacity or complicated hydrogeological environment, the oxidation by oxygen is low efficiency. An efficient leaching method, therefore, is needed for these uranium deposits. In this study, a typical sandstone uranium deposit which characterizes with high TDS and high chloride content in groundwater and intractable uranium leach is selected to investigate the effects of synergetic oxidation by a strong oxidant with oxygen. Based on the research on batch leach, pressure leach and field trials, the oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) are tested. The results of pressure batch leach indicate that synergetic oxidization is achieved by NaDCC in oxygen leaching process. Leaching tests indicate that a minor oxidizer of NaDCC shows good synergetic oxidization with oxygen and leaching effects on uranium minerals. The results also demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide shows no oxidation effects when it is used as a single oxidant. While potassium permanganate shows good oxidation on uranium when it is used as a single oxidant, however, it leads inhibiting effects on oxygen oxidation on uranium minerals. The further field tests are conducted to study the synergetic effects of oxygen with and without sodium dichloroisocyanurate. The preliminary results indicate that a fast leach is observed by the composite oxidants in early stage while no synergetic leach is found after 200 days. Further studies should be conducted in laboratory experiments and pilot scale tests for its potential applications.