Sorption Testing and Generalized Composite Surface Complexation Models for Determining Uranium Sorption Parameters at a Proposed In-situ Recovery Site

Solid-phase iron concentrations and generalized composite surface complexation models were used to evaluate procedures in determining uranium sorption on oxidized aquifer material at a proposed U in situ recovery (ISR) site. At the proposed Dewey Burdock ISR site in South Dakota, USA, oxidized aquifer material occurs downgradient of the U ore zones. Solid-phase Fe concentrations did not explain our batch sorption test results, though total extracted Fe appeared to be positively correlated with overall measured U sorption. Batch sorption test results were used to develop generalized composite surface complexation models that incorporated the full generic sorption potential of each sample, without detailed mineralogic characterization. The resultant models provide U sorption parameters (site densities and equilibrium constants) for reactive transport modeling. The generalized composite surface complexation sorption models were calibrated to batch sorption data from three oxidized core samples using inverse modeling, and gave larger sorption parameters than just U sorption on the measured solid-phase Fe. These larger sorption parameters can significantly influence reactive transport modeling, potentially increasing U attenuation. Because of the limited number of calibration points, inverse modeling required the reduction of estimated parameters by fixing two parameters. The best-fit models used fixed values for equilibrium constants, with the sorption site densities being estimated by the inversion process. While these inverse routines did provide best-fit sorption parameters, local minima and correlated parameters might require further evaluation. Despite our limited number of proxy samples, the procedures presented provide a valuable methodology to consider for sites where metal sorption parameters are required. These sorption parameters can be used in reactive transport modeling to assess downgradient metal attenuation, especially when no other calibration data are available, such as at proposed U ISR sites.     

哈萨克斯坦某古河道砂岩型铀矿钻孔地浸法采铀工艺技术研究

地浸采矿因能较好地回收常规开采方法不能回收的低品位矿石,且开采成本低,对环境污染程度小,显示出了广阔的应用前景。笔者总结了多年来一直在哈萨克斯坦从事古河道砂岩型铀矿床酸法钻孔地浸开采的经验,成井工艺、工艺孔修复、添加氧化剂等钻孔地浸工艺技术,认为:采用行列式形式的开采单元,并将部分注液孔设计为抽液孔,可使浸出率提高。采用浓度60%的双氧水(H2O2)作为氧化剂,可以提高溶浸液Fe3+离子浓度,加快四价铀(U4+)转化六价铀(U6+)的速度,提高浸出率,减少硫酸消耗,总体上降低生产成本。