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Dissolution of uraninite in acid solutions
Author(s) -
Bhatti Tariq M.,
Vuorinen Antti,
Lehtinen Martti,
Tuovinen Olli H.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4660(1998110)73:3<259::aid-jctb937>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - uraninite , dissolution , uranium , rhodochrosite , chemistry , carbonate , mineral , nitric acid , thiobacillus ferrooxidans , nuclear chemistry , environmental chemistry , metallurgy , inorganic chemistry , materials science , ferrous , organic chemistry
The purpose of this work was to assess the oxidative dissolution of uranium from a uraninite‐containing rock in acid sulfate solutions under test conditions relevant to uranium leach mines and acid mine waters. Uranium dissolution in acidified mineral salts solution was slow and the predominant carbonate mineral (rhodochrosite) in the rock sample continued to consume acid. Bacterial inoculation ( Thiobacillus ferrooxidans ) and additional Fe 2+ or S 0 were tested in efforts to enhance the dissolution. Addition of Fe enhanced the solubilization of uranium, whereas S‐addition had little incremental effect on the dissolution with and without bacterial inoculation. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry