Sequential extraction studies of Cu, Cd and U compounds from Gibbsite – bearing shale material, Abu Thor area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Production Sector, Nuclear Materials Authority, Egypt

2 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science (Girls) , El-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

        Gibbsite-bearing shale material was recorded within intra-Carboniferous paleokarst profile of Um-Bogma Formation at Abu Thor area. The present paper is concerned with subsequent separation of Cu, Cd and U compounds from the sulfate solution of the present ore material. Abu Thor representative sample assays 0.5% of Cu, 0.014% of Cd and 0.04% of U as the elements of interest. The effective leaching parameters such as: curing temperature, H2SO4 concentrations, solid / liquid addition ratio, leaching time and leaching temperature were planned to investigate. The  obtaind  sulfate solution under the resulting optimum leaching conditions was found assaying 2.24 g/L of Cu, 0.066 g/L of Cd and 0.19 g/L of U with maximum leaching efficiencies of 92%, 96% and 95% , respectively. In addition 0.008% of V with maximum leaching efficiency of 8.6%   The prepared sulfate solution was treated with 0.5% Na2S solution at pH 0.35 for selective separation of CuS where CdS was subsequently selectively separated at pH 0.5. The present U in the solution free from both Cu and Cd was oxidized with H2O2 solution and recovered with anion exchange resin Amberlite IRA400.