Adsorption properties of anion–exchange resins in joint uranium and rhenium sorption during in-situ uranium leaching

The article describes the results of experimental rhenium and uranium adsorption from in-situ uranium leaching solutions and the studies into their joint presence in different anion-exchange resins. Uranium is well adsorbed only at sulfated anion-exchange resins and goes from sulfate-bearing and weakly concentrated carbonate-bearing solutions to sorbents. Associate recovery of rhenium into in-situ uranium leaching solutions at rhenium content to 1.0 mg/l and at sulfuric acid concentrations up to 3 g/l is reached. During insitu leaching, both rhenium and uranium go to solution as dissolvable ions. The task of rhenium recovery and separation is tightly bound with the form of occurrence of ions in solution. For the comparative analysis of adsorption properties of some modern anionexchange resins relative to uranium and rhenium, joint adsorption of these metals from model sulfuric acid and bicarbonate solutions was tested. In joint adsorption of uranium and rhenium from solutions, it is expedient to use strongly basic macro-porous anionexchange resins. The best results of joint adsorption from model solutions are reached with anion-exchange resin B0-020. In the latter case, the exchange capacity totals 41.2 mg/g in uranium exchange and 16.5 mg/g in rhenium exchange. It is determined as a result that adsorption process of perrhenat–ions at anion–exchange resins follows the ion–exchange mechanism. The studies into the kinetics of uranium and rhenium adsorption from sulfuric acid and bicarbonate solutions at strongly basic anion–exchange resins B0-020 and ВD-706 prove their high efficiency.

Sharafutdinov U. Z., Kurbanov M. A., Alikulov Sh.Sh., Ganieva D. S. Adsorption properties of anion–exchange resins in joint uranium and rhenium sorption during insitu uranium leaching. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(3-1):136—146. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_31_0_136.

Sharafutdinov U. Z.¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Deputy Head of innovation center for the introduction of new technologies, NMMC;
Kurbanov M. A.¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Deputy Chief Engineer for МА-5 technology, NMMC;
Alikulov Sh. Sh.², Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Life Safety, Navoi State Mining Institute;
Ganieva D. S.¹, Geotechnical Engineer of innovation center for the introduction of new technologies, NMMC.
¹ Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine, Navoi, Republic of Uzbekistan;
² Navoi State Mining Institute, Navoi, Republic of Uzbekistan.

U. Z. Sharafutdinov, e-mail: u.sharafutdinov@ngmk.uz.

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