Leaching of uranium from coal by alkaline and mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bi-carbonate

In this study, alkaline leaching using sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate analysis was applied on different raw samples while the raw samples were digested to analyse the uranium content prior to leaching using successively ICP-OES. The recovery of Uranium is by use of very economical alkaline leaching method. Ore samples: 1436, 1437, 1439 and 1440 were investigated for leachability of radioactive metal prior to leaching using digestion methods. Sample 1436, 1437, 1439 and 1440 assayed 918, 1883, 1757 and 1213 parts per billion (ppb) respectively. The pulverised ore was carried out with sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate at different temperature, time, and pH to check the effect of each. The filtrate for all four samples were then analysed for uranium using ICP-OES. The results obtained showed that uranium was successfully leached from the coal sample into solution using alkaline leaching. For all four samples leached at 105°C the uranium is more than 60% with sample 1436 having the highest uranium extraction of 80.1% followed by 1437 of 67.8%. The samples registered higher uranium extraction when leached at higher temperature, pH, and longer time. This suggested that the bore hole 1 at the depth 277.1 – 277.9 could be considered for bigger scale.