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Vol 279
Pages:
98-111
In press
Article
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

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

Authors:
Zhanibek Seitov1
Bakytzhan Toktaruly2
Zhiger Kenzhetayev3
Bagdat Altaibayev4
About authors
Date submitted:
2025-04-16
Date accepted:
2025-12-24
Online publication date:
2026-06-10

Abstract

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.

Область исследования:
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Keywords:
uranium leaching in-situ recovery redox processes ferric ions (III) oxygen saturation Venturi nozzle
Funding:

The work was carried out with the financial support of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (grant N AP 22685351).

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