Solvent Degradation and High Sulphuric Acid Stripping in the Rabbit Lake Uranium Mill

Abstract

The Rabbit Lake uranium mill started processing Collins Bay B-Zone ore in 1985 using the conventional process of acid leaching/tertiary amine extraction followed by a new stripping method employing 400 g/L sulphuric acid as the stripping agent. By mid-1986 a large portion of the tertiary amine component of the solvent had degraded; producing a waxy gel which resulted in numerous operational problems and eventually required replacement of the solvent inventory . This paper describes several aspects of this problem including i) plant experience; ii) identification of the degradation products as secondary amines complexed with sulphuric acid as both cationic and anionic complexes; and iii) testwork directed at the resolution of the solvent degradation problem. This latter program identified the key operational parameters which must be controlled to prevent a recurrence of the problem, thereby allowing for routine use of the high acid stripping process.