Interaction of dry and water-saturated uranium ore with microwave and enhanced extraction of uranium. (May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Chao; Liu, Hongwei; Long, Jie; Liao, Bingyou; Wang, Xuegang; Sun, Zhanxue; Guo, Yadan; Zheng, Zhihong
• Is Part Of: Minerals engineering. Volume 196(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Subjects: Microwave treatment -- Uranium ore -- Pore structure -- Microcrack; Mines and mineral resources -- Periodicals; Ressources minérales -- Périodiques; Mines and mineral resources; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 622
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0892-6875

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: High microwave dielectric loss was achieved at 150–200 °C. Characteristics and quantity of microwave induced microcracks were studied. Microwave treatment effect for dry and water-saturated uranium ore were compared. 93.7% of U was leached for water-saturated uranium ore treated by microwave. Abstract: Uranium encapsulated in gangue minerals is difficult to leach. How to improve the permeability of uranium ore is a key issue to promote uranium leaching. Microwave treatment can effectively weaken gangue inclusions of uranium ore. However, microwave dielectric properties and the characteristics of microwave induced microcracks have not sufficiently been investigated. Resonant cavity perturbation technology and various pore structure characterization methods are used to analyze interaction of uranium ore with microwave. Uranium ore has high dielectric properties at 150–200 °C, which is conducive to induce more microcracks. The role of microwave is mainly to induce a significant increase in macropores (>6.2 μm) volume, which increases by 213.89 % for water-saturated uranium ore. Compared with dry uranium ore, pores in water-saturated uranium ore are better developed. The microwave treatment of uranium ore enhances uranium extraction with both chemical and bioleaching.