Hydrometallurgical processes for treatment of Uranium
Hydrometallurgical processes are employed in the treatment of uranium ores due to the following reasons:
- Uranium has high solubility during leaching and good selectivity for its recovery from liquors.
- Most the time, uranium is dispersed in the ore matrix, and sometimes uranium ores have low grades. This is a restriction for its recovery by physical operations.
Although there are some restrictions, the possibilities of treating uranium ores are very ample. For that reason, is only necessary select the way according to the mineralogical composition, gangue, liberation, etc.
The involved stages can be grouped as fallow:
- Ore preparation.
- Uranium leaching.
- Chemical concentration.
- Final product.
4.1 Ore preparation.
Uranium minerals must be in appropriate conditions during the contact with the leaching agent. Consequently is required crushing and grinding of the ore. Possibilities of physical concentration are low due to the state of uranium minerals in the rock. However, there is an electronic process that employs radioactive properties of uranium. The mineral is selected by an electronic system according to its reactivity which is in relation with the grade of uranium in the ore.
Sometimes, the ore requires a roasting stage before leaching. This consideration can be applied when there is limonite present in the ore. In this case limonite must be converted to hematite.
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