Agitation leaching of uranium and molybdenum from the ore of “Vostok” deposit (Kazahstan) containing 0.285 % of uranium and 0.035 % of molybdenum was performed. Sulfuric acid solutions (of 1 to 3 %) as well as solutions containing oxidants, ferric sulfate and ammonium persulfate, were used as leach solutions. Also, the sample of acid mine drainage collected at “Vostok” deposit containing ferric iron ions and cells of acidophilic microorganisms was used for the leaching. Leaching with sulfuric acid solutions made it possible to leach no more than 19.4 and 24.4% of uranium and molybdenum, respectively. Oxidants allowed to increase extraction of metals. The leaching with ferric sulfate made it possible to extract up to 68 and 28.2 % of uranium and molybdenum, respectively. The leaching with ammonium persulfate made it possible up to 95.2 and 34.8 % of uranium and molybdenum, respectively. High extent of metal extraction was reached when using the sample of acid mine drainage: 95 % of uranium and 48.6 % of molybdenum were extracted. Thus, it was shown that acid mine drainage, which are formed due to complex biogeochemical processes in ore dumps and during ore dressing wastes storage may be successfully used as leach solutions for oxidative leaching of metals from uranium ores.
Studied on the Non-Oxidative Leaching of Zinc Sulfide Ore in Sulfuric Acid Solutions (1st Report)
