УРАН ӨНДІРУШІ КӘСІПОРЫНДАРДЫҢ ИОНИТТЕРІНІҢ СОРБЦИЯЛЫҚ ҚАСИЕТТЕРІН КРЕМНИЙСІЗДЕНДІРУ АРҚЫЛЫ ҚАЛПЫНА КЕЛТІРУ МҮМКІНДІГІН БАҒАЛАУ ЖӘНЕ ОЛАРДЫҢ ДЕГРАДАЦИЯСЫН ТАЛДАУ.

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to study the possibility of removing silicon from ion exchangers that have been used in the production cycle, to determine the optimal concentration of alkaline solutions for desilication, and to subsequently analyze the degradation of ion exchangers (resins) used in sulfuric acid uranium extraction schemes. The relevance of this work is due to the fact that in Kazakhstan, the process of selective sorption of uranium ions by ion exchange resin is widely used as the main method of uranium extraction. During sulfuric acid leaching, in addition to uranium, a number of other elements from rock ores, such as silicic acid, which have a negative impact on technological processes, are transferred into the productive solution. The transfer of silicic acid into the solution and its involvement in the sorption process leads to a gradual accumulation of silicon in anion exchangers, the maximum content of which reaches 12-17%. Since silicon is not washed out of the resin during further processing of the anion exchanger, its accumulation leads to a decrease in the resin's uranium capacity and a loss of mechanical strength. In this regard, the problem of an effective method for reducing the negative impact of silicon in the processing of productive solutions appears to be important and necessary for study. This article discusses experiments on the desilication of industrial sorbent samples using various concentrations of alkaline solutions, as well as a comparative analysis of sorbent samples before and after purification from silicon compounds using IR Fourier spectroscopy with an Agilent Carry 660 spectrometer. The feasibility of using the desilication method to restore the capacity of ion exchange resins for uranium has been determined. The possibility of removing silicon from the sorbent using a NaOH solution was experimentally confirmed. The results of the work indicate the promise of using the desilication method with alkaline solutions for ion exchange resins operated under conditions of intensive “overgrowth” with silicon compounds.