Leaching characterisations and recovery of copper and uranium with glycine solution of sandy dolomite, Allouga area, South Western Sinai, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Copper and uranium can be recovered from the sandy dolomite ore material occurring in Um Bogma Formation, Allouga locality. The nonconventional leaching technique by glycine as lixiviant is used to avoid excessive acid consumption and safe environmentally. A technological sample assays 25 g/kg Cu and 0.6 g/kg U had been processed. Under optimum leaching conditions using 0.2 M glycine concentration, original solution pH 7.5, liquid/solid ratio of 7/1, for 3 hours contact time and 2% peroxide at room temperature (25^°C), leaching efficiency of copper and uranium achieve 98.2% and 85% respectively. The leached metals value copper and uranium had been recovered by precipitation processes, the former with sodium sulphide, whereas the later can be recovered from copper free solution after adjusting at pH 5 and precipitation with hydrogen peroxide.

KEYWORDS:

• Copper
• uranium
• glycine
• leaching
• precipitation

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