Mineralogy and uranium leaching of ores from Triassic Peribaltic sandstones

J Radioanal Nucl Chem. 2015;303(1):521-529. doi: 10.1007/s10967-014-3362-0. Epub 2014 Aug 1.

Abstract

The recovery of uranium and other valuable metals from Polish Peribaltic sandstones were examined. The solid-liquid extraction is the first stage of the technology of uranium production and it is crucial for the next stages of processing. In the laboratory experiments uranium was leached with efficiencies 71-100 % by acidic lixiviants. Satisfactory results were obtained for the alkaline leaching process. Almost 100 % of uranium was leached with alkaline carbonate solution. In post leaching solutions only uranium and small amounts of vanadium were present.

Keywords: Acid leaching; Alkaline leaching; Sandstones; Uranium.