Leaching of El-Missikat low-grade fluoritized uranium ore by sulfuric acid: mechanism and kinetic

A well-characterized low-grade fluoritized uranium samples from new occurrence in Gabal El-Missikat prospect, Eastern Desert, Egypt was subjected to sulfuric acid leaching. The effects of leaching parameters on uranium dissolution mechanism were investigated. The shrinking core model was used to model leaching reactions. The kinetics equations indicates that the reactions appear to be controlled by layer diffusion process. The activation energy for uranium dissolution was evaluated. Low activation energy value (2.54 kJ mol⁻¹) confirm the diffusion layer mechanism. The presence of fluoride ions in the solution increases the dissolution of uranium. The optimum process operating parameters were: sulfuric acid concentration: 1.5 M, solid–liquid ratio: 1:3, contact time 8 h; agitation speed rate 200 rpm; and ore particle size − 75 µm at temperature 60 °C, in the absence of an external oxidant. Under these experimental conditions, the extraction efficiency of uranium was about 91%.