A process for recovering uranium from components contaminated with uranium oxide includes providing a cleaning apparatus with a cleaning solution for dissolving the uranium oxide of the components, carrying out a cleaning process by introducing a batch of components into the cleaning apparatus, and carrying out a measurement for determining the uranium content of the components. The cleaning and the measuring are repeated if a limit value for the uranium content is exceeded. The components are discharged from the process if the uranium content falls below a limit value. The cleaning is carried out on a plurality of successive batches of components until a control measurement indicates an unsatisfactory cleaning action of the cleaning solution. The uranium oxide dissolved in the cleaning solution is recovered after indication of the unsatisfactory cleaning action.

Methods and apparatus for liquid/solid separation for use in applications such as dewatering fine particulate solids, and recovery of valuable metals from ore in a leaching process are provided. One application relates to methods of agitation leaching of metals such as gold from gold-bearing feedstock. A slurry is formed in a tank by agitation, and allowed to settle. A filter bed forms to drain the liquid from the tank, and a vertical screen pipe such as a well point addresses the formation of an impervious film on the upper surface of the filter bed.

The present disclosure provides a method for numerical simulation of reactive transport during CO.sub.2+O.sub.2 in-situ leaching of uranium at a sandstone-type uranium deposit. Unlike the traditional method for numerical simulation of solute transport during in-situ leaching of uranium with consideration of only convection and diffusion, the method permits establishment of a multi-field coupled reactive solute transport model to simulate the dynamic leaching process of a sandstone-type uranium deposit in Northern China. The method provided in the present disclosure includes: creating a thermodynamic database suitable for CO.sub.2+O.sub.2 leaching of a sandstone-type uranium deposit in Northern China, and with consideration of the dynamic reaction process of uranium dissolution under combined action of oxygen O.sub.2 (aq) and bicarbonate HCO.sub.3.sup.−, performing numerical simulation of reactive transport during CO.sub.2+O.sub.2 in-situ leaching of uranium using a TOUGHREACT simulation technology framework.

A process and system is provided for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extraction techniques and for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extraction circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.

A process for recovering uranium from components contaminated with uranium oxide includes providing a cleaning apparatus with a cleaning solution for dissolving the uranium oxide of the components, carrying out a cleaning process by introducing a batch of components into the cleaning apparatus, and carrying out a measurement for determining the uranium content of the components. The cleaning and the measuring are repeated if a limit value for the uranium content is exceeded. The components are discharged from the process if the uranium content falls below a limit value. The cleaning is carried out on a plurality of successive batches of components until a control measurement indicates an unsatisfactory cleaning action of the cleaning solution. The uranium oxide dissolved in the cleaning solution is recovered after indication of the unsatisfactory cleaning action.

Provided are an electrokinetic device and method for in-situ leaching of uranium, belonging to the technical field of in-situ leaching of uranium. The electrokinetic device for in-situ leaching of uranium includes an injection well, a pumping well, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, leaching solution, and a direct current power supply. Uranium ore is provided between the injection well and the pumping well, the negative electrode is arranged in the injection well, and the positive electrode is arranged in the pumping well. The leaching solution is injected from the injection well, flows through the uranium ore, and then is pumped from the pumping well for uranium extraction. The direct current power supply is respectively connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and is configured to apply direct current between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to promote the pooling of uranium-carrying ions towards the pumping well.

The invention provides methods, compositions, and apparatuses for preventing the formation of scale in heap leach process solution distribution systems comprised of piping, spray nozzles, or emitter tubes. Solution distribution system components often become fouled by scale because of local hot spots more prone to form scale than other locations along the systems length. Positioning sensors that detect periods of high temperature stress and adjusting scale control reagent dosage to send the right amount to inhibit hot spot deposition allows for the control of scale without using wasteful excessive amounts of scale control reagents. This can vastly improve scale control performance under high temperature stress conditions while minimizing scale control reagent waste under less severe stress conditions to reduce the total operating cost of running heap leach mining operations which depend upon well-functioning solution distribution systems.

Methods and apparatus for liquid/solid separation for use in applications such as dewatering fine particulate solids, and recovery of valuable metals from ore in a leaching process are provided. One application relates to methods of agitation leaching of metals such as gold from gold-bearing feedstock. A slurry is formed in a tank by agitation, and allowed to settle. A filter bed forms to drain the liquid from the tank, and a vertical screen pipe such as a well point addresses the formation of an impervious film on the upper surface of the filter bed.

Methods and apparatus for liquid/solid separation for use in applications such as dewatering fine particulate solids, and recovery of valuable metals from ore in a leaching process are provided. One application relates to methods of agitation leaching of metals such as gold from gold-bearing feedstock. A slurry is formed in a tank by agitation, and allowed to settle. A filter bed forms to drain the liquid from the tank, and a vertical screen pipe such as a well point addresses the formation of an impervious film on the upper surface of the filter bed.

The present disclosure relates to a process and system for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extraction techniques and to a system for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extraction circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.