Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Optimization of uranium alkaline leaching from the solid waste sample containing high fluoride and nitrate by response surface methodology experimental design

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

M. Haji Hosseini 1
M.R. Pourjavid 1
E. Zolfonoun 1
S.R. Yousefi 1
M. Rezaee 1
S. Tabibzadeh Dezfouli 1
H. Hoseinpoor 2
T. Rabiei Samani 2

1 Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box:11365-8486, Tehran-Iran

2 Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, Fatsa Company, Postal Code: 81664111, Isfahan - Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2021.976.1663
Abstract
Carbonate solution is used for the alkaline leaching of uranium from solid waste. Time, temperature, stirring speed (independent parameters) and total carbonate concentration, carbonate to bicarbonate ratio, and the ratio of liquid eluent volume to solid waste weight (L/S) (dependent parameters) are effective parameters in the leaching process. Independent parameters were optimized using the one variant at time (OVAT) method and the dependent parameters were evaluated simultaneously with the use of MINITAB software and using the face central composite design (FCCD) method. The solid waste powder was analyzed by EDAX, SEM, and XRD, and elemental analysis of samples was performed by ICP-OES after complete dissolution. Duration time of 0.5 hours, the stirrer rotation speed of 150 rpm, room temperature, concentrations of 0.09, 0.01, and 0.1 M for sodium carbonate, bicarbonate, and total carbonate, respectively, with a ratio of 9.1 and 20 for the ratio of sodium carbonate to sodium bicarbonate and L/S, respectively, were optimal conditions. Reproducibility of solid waste leaching was obtained by performing 4 experiments and the values of 94.2±2 and 4.15±1.6 were obtained for the average percentage of leach and solid residue, respectively. The average uranium grade was 2.09±0.02.

Highlights

1. F. Zahakifar, et al, Study of uranium recovery from sulfate medium utilizing bulk liquid membrane containing Alamine 336 in kerosene, J. Nuc. Sci. Tech., 95, 11 (2021) (In Persian).
 
2. W.E. Clifford, et al, The solvent extraction of uranium (VI) from carbonate solutions, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 80, 2959 (1958).
 
3. Z. Zhu, Y. Prando, C. Cheng, Uranium solvent extraction and separation from vanadium in alkaline solutions, Sep. Sci. Technol., 48, 1402 (2013).
 
4. C.F.V. Mason, et al, Carbonate leaching of uranium from contaminated soil, Environ. Sci. Technol., 31, 2707 (1997).
 
5. J.S. Kim, et al, Leaching behavior of uranium and vanadium using strong sulphuric acid from Korean black shale ore, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 299, 81 (2014).
 
6. B. Avvaru, et al, Sono- chemical leaching of uranium, Chem. Eng. Process- Process Intensification., 47, 2107 (2008).

 

7. D. Gajda, et al, Mineralogy and uranium leaching of ores from Triassic Peribaltic sandstones, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 303, 521 (2015).
 
8. A.H. Kaksonen, A.M. Lakaniemi, O.H. Tuovinen, Acid and ferric sulfate bioleaching of uranium ores: A Review, 264, 121586 (2020).
 
9. D.C. Montgomery, Design and Analysis of experiments, John Wiley and Sons, New York, (2001).
 
10. A.K. Das, S. Dewanjee, in: Optimization of extraction using mathematical models and computation, Computational phytochemistry, edited by S.D. Sarker, and L. Nahar (Elsevier, 2018) 75-106 (2018).
 
11. A.K. Das, V. Mandal, S.C. Mandal, Design of experiment approach for the process optimization of microwave assisted extraction of lupeol from Ficus racemosa leaves using response surface methodology, Phytochem. Anal., 24, 230 (2013).

Keywords

Uranium
Alkaline leaching
Experimental design
1. F. Zahakifar, et al, Study of uranium recovery from sulfate medium utilizing bulk liquid membrane containing Alamine 336 in kerosene, J. Nuc. Sci. Tech., 95, 11 (2021) (In Persian).
 
2. W.E. Clifford, et al, The solvent extraction of uranium (VI) from carbonate solutions, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 80, 2959 (1958).
 
3. Z. Zhu, Y. Prando, C. Cheng, Uranium solvent extraction and separation from vanadium in alkaline solutions, Sep. Sci. Technol., 48, 1402 (2013).
 
4. C.F.V. Mason, et al, Carbonate leaching of uranium from contaminated soil, Environ. Sci. Technol., 31, 2707 (1997).
 
5. J.S. Kim, et al, Leaching behavior of uranium and vanadium using strong sulphuric acid from Korean black shale ore, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 299, 81 (2014).
 
6. B. Avvaru, et al, Sono- chemical leaching of uranium, Chem. Eng. Process- Process Intensification., 47, 2107 (2008).
 
7. D. Gajda, et al, Mineralogy and uranium leaching of ores from Triassic Peribaltic sandstones, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 303, 521 (2015).
 
8. A.H. Kaksonen, A.M. Lakaniemi, O.H. Tuovinen, Acid and ferric sulfate bioleaching of uranium ores: A Review, 264, 121586 (2020).
 
9. D.C. Montgomery, Design and Analysis of experiments, John Wiley and Sons, New York, (2001).
 
10. A.K. Das, S. Dewanjee, in: Optimization of extraction using mathematical models and computation, Computational phytochemistry, edited by S.D. Sarker, and L. Nahar (Elsevier, 2018) 75-106 (2018).
 
11. A.K. Das, V. Mandal, S.C. Mandal, Design of experiment approach for the process optimization of microwave assisted extraction of lupeol from Ficus racemosa leaves using response surface methodology, Phytochem. Anal., 24, 230 (2013).

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