AP19679911 "Improving the efficiency of uranium in-situ leaching in the development of complex hydrogenic deposits"
Relevance
Due to the difficult mining and geological conditions of the deposit, the recoverability of uranium from the subsurface is about 50% with an acidity of leaching solutions of 10-15 g/l for easily recoverable deposits and 80% with an acidity of 20-25 g/l for hard-to-extract uranium. All this ultimately leads to a decrease in the uranium content in the productive solution, increased consumption of sulfuric acid, and an increase in the life of the deposit.
There are various ways to intensify the leaching process, the use of which requires additional capital and operating costs and differs in technological difficulties in application.
The idea of the work is to increase the uranium content in the productive solution by concentrating the leaching solution with oxygen from the air using a special injector.
Purpose
Increasing the efficiency of uranium leaching in the development of complex hydrogenic deposits by concentrating the leaching solution with oxygen
Expected and achieved results
Expected results:
In 2023: it is planned to study the geological features of the deposit, analyze historical data on leaching indicators at the deposit, take ore samples and analyze uranium content, prepare laboratory work methods, manufacture and test a bench installation. Publication of 1 article in a publication recommended by COXON and participation in an international exhibition or conference, brief information.
In 2024: based on laboratory studies, dependences will be obtained: oxygen concentration in the leaching solution on the speed and volume of the supplied solution; time to reach the maximum oxygen concentration in the solution; changes in oxygen concentration after passing the leaching solution through a special injector from the distance of transportation. Publication of 1 article and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed scientific publications in the scientific field of the project, included in the 2 (first), 2 (second) and (or) 3 (third) quartile of impact factor in the Web of Science database and (or) having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 50 (fifty). Participation in an international exhibition or conference. Interim report
In 2025: as a result of laboratory work on ore samples from the deposit, dependences of the influence of: the content of the reagent in the leaching solution on the degree of concentration of the leaching solution with oxygen; the concentration of oxygen in the leaching solution on the content of uranium, two-three valence iron and redox potential in the productive solution will be obtained. A methodology for the application of this technology in production conditions will be developed. Publication of 2 articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed scientific publications in the scientific field of the project, included in the 2 (first), 2 (second) and (or) 3 (third) quartile of impact factor in the Web of Science database and (or) having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 50 (fifty). Participation in an international exhibition or conference. The final report.
Results achieved:
For 2023:
The geological features of the object of study have been studied. Core materials were selected. Part of the core material was crushed, the average uranium content was 0.035% and 0.04%.
The analysis of the chemical composition of the ore was carried out, the predominant content of potassium, calcium and iron in comparison with other chemical elements was revealed.
Historical data on leaching indicators have been collected and analyzed.
A methodology for carrying out laboratory work has been developed and a laboratory bench installation has been manufactured.
1 article was published in the Mining Journal of Kazakhstan.
They took part in the international exhibition "International Mining and Resources Conference".
Brief information on the results of the work has been prepared.
1 article was published in the journal Mining of Mineral Deposits, a peer-reviewed scientific publication included in the 3rd (third) quartile of impact factor in the Web of Science database and having a percentile of CiteScore in the Scopus database - 71 (seventy-one) in the field of Geotechnology.
Research team members with their identifiers (Scopus Author ID, Researcher ID, ORCID, if available) and links to relevant profiles
Aben Erbolat:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57193536276
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/2353786
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8537-229X
Yusupov Khalidilla:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57218896421
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/2059589
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7682-5207
Akhmetkanov Dalelkhan:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?origin=AuthorProfile&authorId=57212550146&zone=
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/3101052
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4824-7240
Yelzhanov Erbol:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=58111818500
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9138-7033
Eluzakh Mukhtar:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?origin=AuthorProfile&authorId=57196083578&zone=
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/2743468
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6865-0817
List of publications with links to them
- E. Aben, D. Akhmetkanov, M. Eluzakh, E. Elzhanov. Study of oxygen oxidation technology of leaching solution. Mining journal of Kazakhstan. №10, 2023, p. 13-18, ISSN: 2227–4766, https://minmag.kz/ru/2023/11/03/%e2%84%9610-2023/