Factors influencing the application of bacterial leaching to a Canadian uranium ore / V.F. Harrison, W.A. Gow and M.R. Hughson, Extraction Metallurgy Division. : M34-20/85E-PDF

“Laboratory tests were conducted to investigate the effects of particle size and composition of the leaching solution on the extraction of uranium from an Elliot Lake ore in the presence of bacteria. It was shown that the leaching of particles coarser than 4 mesh in the presence of the Ferrobacillus-Thiobacillus group of bacteria was a very slow process, with only 70% of the uranium being extracted in thirty-two weeks. Uranium extractions of 90% were obtained when leaching particles finer than 4 mesh, in periods ranging from five to twenty weeks. The work showed that for ores coarser than 8 mesh it was necessary to add initially to the leach solution 1.0 g Fe++/1 and nutrient salts containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Extraction rate of uranium increased with initial iron concentrations of up to 1.0 g Fe++41/1. The addition of iron and nutrient was not required for ores finer than 8 mesh. The work also indicated that the extraction rate is determined by the rate at which the leaching solutions can penetrate the particles to depth. Further tests showed that bacterial leaching could be used to recover most of the uranium from reject mill products such as flotation tailings. Mineralogical studies were done to determine how bacterial leaching affected the minerals present in the Elliot Lake ore"--Abstract, p. i.

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