Oxygen Used as an Oxidizer in Acid In-Situ Leach Uranium: From Theory to Practice

A typical sandstone uranium deposit, located in the Tuhar basin, was selected to compare the effect of oxygen as the oxidizer with that of hydrogen peroxide. Based on the feasibility study of oxygenation of ferrous and uranium minerals, batch leaching, pressure column leaching and field testing were carried through. The results of feasibility study and laboratory leaching indicate that ferrous ion is inaccessible to being oxidized by pressure oxygen in acidic solutions with pH 2–2.5, and oxygen can oxidize the uranium minerals. Recovery of uranium is proportional to the oxygen pressure. Additionally, the low concentrations of aluminium and ferric ion alleviate the potential precipitation of aluminum and iron significantly. The further field test confirmed the feasibility of oxygen in acid leach. Oxygen has some extent effects of increasing uranium level and considerable effects of anti-precipitation and clogging. In general, oxygen has better applicability in this deposit.