Investigation of Aeration Rate on Uranium Bioleaching in Internal Airlift Bioreactor

Abstract

Uranium is leached from the uranium ore of the second anomaly of Saghand by the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans bacteria in an internal airlift bio-reactor. This study has been made to find the effect of aeration rate as well as its optimal value. The experiments have been carried out at 4 aeration rates to find the best recovery results in the least possible time duration. The results showed that the most percentage of the uranium recovery is in the superficial gas velocity of 0.010 m/s. The recovery at this aeration rate has an efficiency of more than 95% in 11 days. Also, the best range for aeration study in the airlift bio-reactor is calculated with a minimum value of 0.0065 m/s which is the critical value of the uranium particle suspension as well as the maximum value of 0.015 m/s. The stress on the bacteria increases the recovery time process in velocities of more than 0.015 m/s.

Keywords

• bioleaching
• uranium ores
• thiobacillus ferrooxidans
• bioreactors
• aeration rate
• saghand