A research on processing PaLua - PaRong uranium ore by agitation leaching method, compared with heap leaching method

Abstract

Technologies for uranium ore processing have been studied and applied at industrial scale in many countries, yet being studied further to improve uranium recovery yield, assure economic effectiveness, and restrain hazardous effects on the environment. Depending on the kind of ores and uranium content, a suitable leaching technology would be selected. The Institute for Technology of Radioactive and Rare Elements (ITRRE) has been studying leaching methods to obtain the high recovery efficiency of uranium. Agitation leaching was the first selection to determine optimum conditions, i.e. acid consumption, amount of oxidant, etc to obtain the highest recovery efficiency. In this article, the optimum parameters for processing uranium ore (U = 1.188%) from the PaLua - PaRong area (Quang Nam province) by agitation leaching method using sulfuric acid were presented. The obtained data of the agitation leaching were compared with those of heap leaching technology.