Optimisation of uranium-radium co-leaching from uranium ore

To improve the utilisation of uranium resources while reducing the radioactive contamination of uranium slag by Ra-226, the effects of various factors on uranium-radium co-leaching from uranium ore were investigated. For nitric acid agitation leaching, the optimal performance was achieved using 80 mesh ore in 4 mol L-1 nitric acid at 40 degrees C for 4 h with a liquid-to-solid ratio of 3. Under these conditions, the uranium leaching rate was > 99% and the radium leaching rate was > 93% with standard deviations of < 0.04% and < 0.7%, respectively. Thus, this approach realises simultaneous uranium and radium leaching at high rates.