Remediation of radionuclide-contaminated soil sampled in in-situ uranium leaching areas

Uranium production induces contamination of natural objects, in particular, soils in in-situ uranium leaching areas. Radionuclides of the uranium decay chains, such as U238, U234, U235, Th230, Ra226 etc., in soil in in-situ uranium leaching areas impose risk and hazard on mine personnel and on nature. The content of radionuclides in contaminated soil is determined in order to prevent the adverse effect of their radiation. With the known content and specific activity of radionuclides in soil, the soil remediation methods are identified, including machinery, technology and leaching techniques. This article presents the sequence of remediation and the operating principle of the new flowchart. The portability and low costs of the flowchart are demonstrated. In contaminated soil under analysis, the content of general uranium ranges from 0.00293 to 0.00513%. After treatment of contaminated soil using the proposed method, the content of uranium decreases and becomes 0.00145 to 0.00255%. The proposed method of remediation of soil contaminated with the uranium decoy chain radionuclides is assumed to be suitable for the application on a large scale.

Muzafarov A. M., Kulmatov R. A., Razhabboev I., Yоkubov О. M. Remediation of radionuclide-contaminated soil sampled in in-situ uranium leaching areas. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(3-1):119—126. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_31_0_119.

Muzafarov A. M., Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Chief Engineer of the Central Scientific Research Laboratory, NMMC;
Kulmatov R. A., Professor, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), National University of Uzbekistan;
Rajabboev I., Senior Lecturer of the Department of Metallurgy, Navoi State Mining Institute;
Yоkubov O. M., Junior Researcher of the State Unitary Enterprise “Fan va taragiyot” at the Tashkent State Technical University named after I. Karimov.

A. M. Muzafarov, e-mail: u.sharafutdinov@ngmk.uz

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