Submit an Article
Become a reviewer
Zhiger Kenzhetayev
Zhiger Kenzhetayev
Ph.D.
Chief Engineer
Institute of High Technologies LLP
Chief Engineer, Ph.D.
Institute of High Technologies LLP
Almaty
Kazakhstan

Co-authors

Articles

Article
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
  • Date submitted
    2025-04-16
  • Date accepted
    2025-12-24
  • Online publication date
    2026-06-10

Oxidation kinetics of tetravalent uranium during sulfuric-acid leaching intensification under in-situ recovery conditions

Article preview

The paper examines how redox phenomena govern the recovery of uranium by in-situ recovery (ISR) technology, with particular emphasis on the role of oxygen and iron in the controlling reactions. A review is presented of the standard electrode potentials of the ionic species participating in the process, followed by a detailed examination of the conversion of Fe(II) to Fe(III) and its effect on uranium dissolution in acidic media. The experimental section addresses the oxygenation of acidic lixiviants through a Venturi-type nozzle. The findings demonstrate that tuning the redox conditions markedly enhances the productivity of ISR. Atmospheric oxygen, owing to its availability and cost efficiency, drives the Fe(II) → Fe(III) transition and thereby raises the solubility of uranium-bearing species. Through experiment, the flow velocity providing the maximum oxygen dissolution was identified. Incorporation of the Venturi nozzle substantially increased the dissolved-oxygen content of the lixiviant, which in turn raised the Fe(III) concentration and improved uranium recovery. The proposed approach yielded a 38.13 % increase in uranium extraction relative to the conventional procedure. The work confirms the importance of redox processes in uranium hydrometallurgy and justifies the need to optimize them for industrial gains. A Venturi nozzle embedded in an acidic recirculation loop, operated without any externally supplied oxidant, sustains an Eh elevation sufficient for the U(IV) → U(VI) transition through enhanced oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+. The study quantitatively documents a ~60-70 % rise in dissolved O2, an Eh increment of ~30-80 mV, and a corresponding gain in dissolved uranium.

How to cite: Seitov Z., Toktaruly B., Kenzhetayev Z., Altaibayev B. Oxidation kinetics of tetravalent uranium during sulfuric-acid leaching intensification under in-situ recovery conditions // Journal of Mining Institute. 2026. Vol. 279. p. 98-111.