A Novel Approach To Tailings Disposal

The present study investigated the extraction of uranium from a low-grade ore by sulfuric acid and the removal of radium from the leach residues by brine solutions. The optimum leaching conditions were found to be 1.5 mole [£]-1 H2SO4, 6.Og[9]-1NaClO3, 75°C,50% pulp density and 750 rpm with respect to the rate of uranium extraction. The maximum theoretical attainable rate of uranium extraction was determined to be V = 1.09 x 10 -2 mole [¢]-1h-1 with respect to pulp density. The order of reaction was found to be zero regarding the effect of sodium chlorate concentrations. The apparent activation energy of uranium extraction was calculated from the Arrhenius plot to be [A]E a - 2.36 kcal mole-1 (9.87 kJ mole-1). Based on a statistical design, an empirical equation has been developed describing the rate of uranium extraction with the leaching parameters. This equation can be used to generate data which may be useful for scaling up the process to pilot plant level. The most efficient brine solution for the extraction of radium - 226 from the leach residue was found to contain one mole[f] -1 CaCl2 and 0.01 mole [2] -1 HC1. The two step leaching with this solution resulted 87% removal of radium from the leach residue. On the basis of this study, a flow-sheet has been proposed for the extraction of uranium and radionuclides from the ore and leach residue to yield almost innocuous tailings.