Bio-Dissolution Process as Environmental Technology for Uranium Leaching from El-Sella Ore Material by Aspergillus sulphureus

Abstract

Research into radionuclide leaching behavior in the treatment of low-level radioactive waste solidification has been a widespread concern. Bioleaching of uranium was carried out using Aspergillus sulphureus isolated from El-Sella ore material. This area is located in the southern eastern desert of Egypt. The maximum bioleaching of U(VI) was found to be 83.1 % at these optimum conditions: 9 days incubation period, 0.5% pulp density, 30 °C incubation temperature at shaking speed 175 rpm. Glucose and NH4Cl were considered the best carbon and nitrogen sources for fungal growth through direct bioleaching process. A. sulphureus exhibits good potential in generating varieties of organic acids which effective for bioleaching of uranium. It produced 45.2 and 17 µg/ml from gallic and ellagic acids, respectively in the culture filtrate under the optimum conditions. This work represented the environmental technology for leaching of uranium where this is method is more save and low cost.

Keywords:

• A. sulphureus
• bioleaching
• El-Sella
• organic acids
• uranium

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Faculty of Science, Zagazig University and the Ore Processing Department in Nuclear Materials Authority, Cairo, Egypt.