Study of an effective method for extracting uranium from black shale rock using a factor of oxidation and reverse coal flotation

The article presents the results of experiments on the extraction of uranium from black shale rock by the combined method of reverse flotation followed by leaching with sulfuric acid. The shape of the uranium in the test sample is typical for such types of black shale rock. The distribution of uranium in silicate and carbon-containing fragments makes it difficult to isolate it by the standard flotation method and reduces extraction by sulfuric acid leaching. Based on the characteristics of the composition of black shale rock, studies were conducted on the extraction of uranium by reverse coal flotation, using various grinding modes and the addition of an oxidizing reagent - trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA). The effect of the grinding regime on the transfer of uranium-containing carbon fragments and coal to the reverse flotation concentrate has been revealed. The most representative results of the processing of black shale rock with coarse and fine grinding options are presented. As a result, it was found that when crushed to a fineness class of 60% minus 0.071 mm in the presence of the oxidizer TCCA, the maximum extraction of 98.2% uranium into the tailings during reverse flotation was achieved. Subsequent leaching of the tailings of the reverse flotation made it possible to obtain the maximum concentration of uranium in the productive solution at 94.5% extraction.