Recovery of Uranium, Nickel, Molybdenum, and Vanadium from Floated Asphaltite Ash

ABSTRACT

In this study, asphaltite ash obtained from asphaltite was sulfurized under an autoclave condition, and then this sample was floated by two different xanthates. The amount of uranium, nickel, molybdenum, and vanadium in the asphaltite ash was concentrated approximately 12 times. Uranium, nickel, molybdenum, and vanadium in the concentrated samples were separated in the following stages: first the concentrate was leached with different concentrations of (NH₄)₂CO₃ to recover uranium and aluminium; in the second stage, the remaining sample was roasted with treated pyrite at 700°C and leached by water to obtain soluble nickel compounds; in the third stage, the remaining sample was leached with 15 M H₂SO₄ to solublise molybdenum, titanium, and iron compounds. A solid sample containing vanadium compounds was removed from a solution containing molybdenum, titanium, and iron compounds. This solution was extracted with alamine 336 to separate molybdenum from titanium and iron.

Key Words::

• Asphaltite ash
• Molybdenum
• Leaching
• Nickel