The utility model relates to the field of
hydrometallurgy, in particular to methods for
processing uranium-containing ores, and can be used in the extraction of
scandium as a valuable by-product in the processes of underground and
heap leaching of
uranium, as well as in the
processing of process solutions from
uranium production. The proposed method can be used at mining and metallurgical enterprises specializing in the extraction and
processing of uranium raw materials, as well as in the complex processing of mineral raw materials with the extraction of rare and
rare earth elements. The objective of the utility model is to develop a method for extracting
scandium from uranium-containing ores, ensuring an increase in the degree of
scandium extraction due to a more complete involvement of both readily soluble (epigenetic) and poorly soluble (syngenetic) forms of scandium, as well as the intensification of the leaching process while maintaining technological simplicity and the possibility of using circulating solutions. The technical result of the utility model is to increase the degree of scandium extraction from uranium-containing ores by carrying out the leaching process in two successive stages with different concentrations of
sulfuric acid, which ensures the selective extraction of first readily soluble and then poorly soluble forms of scandium, as well as increasing the efficiency of using the leaching
reagent by using the mother uranium
sorption solution with its additional strengthening with
sulfuric acid and conducting the process in a cyclic mode. The technical result is achieved by a method for extracting scandium from uranium-containing ores, including
sulfuric acid leaching with mixing in a cyclic mode with the return of the solution, in which the leaching
reagent is a mother solution of uranium
sorption, further strengthened with sulfuric acid, followed by
filtration of the pulp after the completion of the leaching process. According to the utility model, leaching is carried out in two successive stages at a
solid:
liquid ratio of 1:2-1:3, wherein at the first stage leaching is carried out at a sulfuric
acid concentration of 16-20 g / dm3 for 3.5-4 hours to extract predominantly readily soluble forms of scandium, after which the resulting
solid residue is separated and subjected to a second stage of leaching, which is carried out at an increased sulfuric
acid concentration of 20-50 g / dm3 also for 3.5-4 hours.