Column Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Silicate Ore of Uranium

The bioleaching of a low-grade Indian uraninite ore (triuranium octoxide, U₃O₈: 0.024%), containing ferro-silicate and magnetite as the major phases, and hematite and pyrite in minor amounts, has been reported. Experiments were carried out in laboratory scale column reactors inoculated with enriched culture of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans isolated from the source mine water. The pH effect on uranium recovery was examined with the same amounts of ores in different columns. With the presence of 10.64% Fe in the ore as ferro-silicate, the higher uranium biorecovery of 58.9% was observed with increase in cell count from 6.4 × 10⁷ to 9.7 × 10⁸ cells/mL at pH 1.7 in 40 days as compared to the uranium recovery of 56.8% at pH 1.9 with a corresponding value of 9.4 × 10⁸ cells/mL for 2.5-kg ore in the column. The dissolution of uranium under chemical leaching conditions, however, recorded a lower value of 47.9% in 40 days at room temperature. Recoveries were similar with 6-kg ore when column leaching was carried out at pH 1.7. The bioleaching of uranium from the low-grade ore of Turamdih may be correlated with the iron(II) and iron(III) concentrations, and redox potential values.