Geochemical Characteristics and Uranium Neutral Leaching through a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> System—An Example from Uranium Ore of the ELZPA Ore Deposit in Pakistan
Geochemical characterization studies and batch leaching experiments were conducted to explore the effects of a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> leaching system on uranium (U) recovery from ores obtained from an eastern limb of Zinda Pir Anticline ore deposit in Pakistan. The mi...
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Metals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/10/12/1616 |
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| author | Fiaz Asghar Zhanxue Sun Gongxin Chen Yipeng Zhou Guangrong Li Haiyan Liu Kai Zhao |
| author_facet | Fiaz Asghar Zhanxue Sun Gongxin Chen Yipeng Zhou Guangrong Li Haiyan Liu Kai Zhao |
| author_sort | Fiaz Asghar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Geochemical characterization studies and batch leaching experiments were conducted to explore the effects of a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> leaching system on uranium (U) recovery from ores obtained from an eastern limb of Zinda Pir Anticline ore deposit in Pakistan. The mineralogy of the ore was identified by Electron Probe Micro-analyzer (EPMA) and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS), showing that pitchblende is the main ore mineral. XRD was also used along with EPMA and SEM characterization data. Experimental results indicate that U mobility was readily facilitated in the CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> system with Eh 284 mV and pH 6.24, and an 86% recovery rate of U<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> was obtained. U speciation analysis implied the formation of UO<sub>2</sub> (CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub><sup>2−</sup> in the pregnant solution. The plausible mechanism may be attributed to the dissolved CO<sub>2</sub> gas that forms carbonate/bicarbonate ion releasing oxidized U from the ore mineral. However, U recovery in the liquid phase was shown to decrease by higher U(VI) initial concentration, which may be due to the saturation of Fe adsorption capacity, as suggested by an increase in Fe concentration with increasing initial U(VI) concentration in the solid phase. However, further studies are needed to reveal the influencing mechanism of U(VI) initial concentration on U recovery in the solid phase. This study provides new insights on the feasibility and validity of the site application of U neutral in situ leaching. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:24:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
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| series | Metals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b2b721d9bbea44a0b09bbc87106d93bb2023-11-20T23:06:18ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012020-12-011012161610.3390/met10121616Geochemical Characteristics and Uranium Neutral Leaching through a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> System—An Example from Uranium Ore of the ELZPA Ore Deposit in PakistanFiaz Asghar0Zhanxue Sun1Gongxin Chen2Yipeng Zhou3Guangrong Li4Haiyan Liu5Kai Zhao6School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaSchool of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaSchool of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaSchool of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaSchool of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaGeochemical characterization studies and batch leaching experiments were conducted to explore the effects of a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> leaching system on uranium (U) recovery from ores obtained from an eastern limb of Zinda Pir Anticline ore deposit in Pakistan. The mineralogy of the ore was identified by Electron Probe Micro-analyzer (EPMA) and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS), showing that pitchblende is the main ore mineral. XRD was also used along with EPMA and SEM characterization data. Experimental results indicate that U mobility was readily facilitated in the CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> system with Eh 284 mV and pH 6.24, and an 86% recovery rate of U<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> was obtained. U speciation analysis implied the formation of UO<sub>2</sub> (CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub><sup>2−</sup> in the pregnant solution. The plausible mechanism may be attributed to the dissolved CO<sub>2</sub> gas that forms carbonate/bicarbonate ion releasing oxidized U from the ore mineral. However, U recovery in the liquid phase was shown to decrease by higher U(VI) initial concentration, which may be due to the saturation of Fe adsorption capacity, as suggested by an increase in Fe concentration with increasing initial U(VI) concentration in the solid phase. However, further studies are needed to reveal the influencing mechanism of U(VI) initial concentration on U recovery in the solid phase. This study provides new insights on the feasibility and validity of the site application of U neutral in situ leaching.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/10/12/1616geochemical characteristicspitchblendeU neutral leachingELZPA ore deposit in Pakistan |
| spellingShingle | Fiaz Asghar Zhanxue Sun Gongxin Chen Yipeng Zhou Guangrong Li Haiyan Liu Kai Zhao Geochemical Characteristics and Uranium Neutral Leaching through a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> System—An Example from Uranium Ore of the ELZPA Ore Deposit in Pakistan Metals geochemical characteristics pitchblende U neutral leaching ELZPA ore deposit in Pakistan |
| title | Geochemical Characteristics and Uranium Neutral Leaching through a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> System—An Example from Uranium Ore of the ELZPA Ore Deposit in Pakistan |
| title_full | Geochemical Characteristics and Uranium Neutral Leaching through a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> System—An Example from Uranium Ore of the ELZPA Ore Deposit in Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Geochemical Characteristics and Uranium Neutral Leaching through a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> System—An Example from Uranium Ore of the ELZPA Ore Deposit in Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geochemical Characteristics and Uranium Neutral Leaching through a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> System—An Example from Uranium Ore of the ELZPA Ore Deposit in Pakistan |
| title_short | Geochemical Characteristics and Uranium Neutral Leaching through a CO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> System—An Example from Uranium Ore of the ELZPA Ore Deposit in Pakistan |
| title_sort | geochemical characteristics and uranium neutral leaching through a co sub 2 sub o sub 2 sub system an example from uranium ore of the elzpa ore deposit in pakistan |
| topic | geochemical characteristics pitchblende U neutral leaching ELZPA ore deposit in Pakistan |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/10/12/1616 |
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