Role of Nickel alloys in extraction of Uranium and other metals

A method utilized to extract uranium from its ore is primarily based on the kind of ore used.
Some uranium based ores are tough while others are soft, some non-reactive with acids and
others that contain calcite, highly reactive using large magnitudes of acid in their processing.
The general process is to crush the rock to size easily that is done through hammer mills,
which is ten further ground in rod, ball or hammer mills as long as uniform material is received
that is leached readily. Either acid or caustic leaching process can be followed using
mechanically agitated tanks. Chlorides are commonly linked with uranium ores and the
processing procedure includes chloride ions and potential oxidizing agents in addition to dilute
sulfuric acid. There is a strong susceptibility to pitting and crevice corrosion and at high
corrosion rates with stainless steel 304L or 316L steels. The high composition alloys are
cautiously chosen to find compatibility in a specific leaching condition. The alloys with
resistance to some harsh conditions as shown in following tables are Hastelloy alloy G-3, G,
Hastelloy C276, Inconel 625, Carpenter 20Cb3, Incoloy 825 and many other alloy
materials.
Uranium recovery acid process data
Conducted in Pachuca container, uranium ore leaching slurry comprising of 70 g/l 93% sulfuric
acid, in vapor 0.46m at 75 to 85oC or 167 to 185oF for 90 days. Extensive agitation and
aeration.
Alloy

Hastelloy G3
Stainless steel
904L
Jessop alloy JS 777
Hastelloy alloy G
Carpenter alloy
20Cb3
Carpenter alloy
20Mo-6
Incoloy alloy 825
Stainless steel 317
Stainless steel 316
sensitized
Stainless steel 316

Corrosion rate

Highest pitting
depth

Mm/y
0.03
0.041
0.064

mpy
0.1
1.6
2.5

0.066
0.003
0.211
0.099
0.119
0.069

2.6
0.1
8.3
3.9
4.7
2.7

0.206
0.150

8.1
5.9

0.066
0.594
0.03
1.367
0.457
1.643

2.6
23.4
0.1
53.8
18
64.7

1.242
1.943

48.9
76.5

Uranium recovery acid process data

Intergranular
corrosion
perforated

Uranium ore leaching tank, pulped uranium ore comprising of 60% solids, 3 to 5% H2SO4, 5 to
10 g/l ferric ion, ferrous ion and 0.1% NaClO3, submerged in pulp near steam coil, 45oC or
113oF, 41 days, no aeration, medium agitation.
Alloy

Incoloy alloy
825
Stainless steel
316
Carpenter alloy
Hastelloy C
Chemical lead
Stainless steel
317
Stainless steel
302
Stainless steel

Corrosion rate

Highest depth of crevice

corrosion
Mm/y
Mpy

Mm/y
Nil

Mpy
Below 0.1

Nil

Below 0.1

0.005
0.03
0.05
0.005

0.2
1.3
2
0.2

incipent

0.005

0.2

0.15

0.04

1.4

.64

25

Uranium recovery acid process data

Process unit uranium ore leach tank 9.75 x 9.14m (32 feet diameter x 30 feet deep), 5 to 53/4 sulfuric acid (50 to 60 g/l); 0.2 to 0.3 g/l chlorate, 5.6 g/l dissolved iron, 1 g/l U3O6, 70%
solids, suspended in acid leach pulp 0.61m beneath surface and 3.66m from tank center at 45
to 458oC or 113 to 118oF, 60 days, air lift agitated.
Alloy

Corrosion
rate
Mm/y Mpy

Highest depth of localized

corrosion
Pitting
Crevice
Mm/y
Mpy

Incoloy 825
Hastelloy C276
Duriron
Stainless steel
317
Carpenter alloy
20Cb
Stainless steel
316
Stainless steel
316L
Hastelloy D

Nil
0.04
0.06
0.02

Nil
1.4
2.2
0.9

1.52

0.03

1.3

Perforated

0.05

1.9

0.05

2.21

87

Perforate
d

60

Perforated
Perforated

Other metals
Among other essential metals, zinc is also processed through hydrometallurgical methods.
Leaching of the roasted ore and ore concentrates with sulfuric acid is followed through
electrolytic deposition of zinc content of liquors with insoluble anodes.
Feed of cells is often about 110 to 135 g/l zinc. Sulfuric acid concentration changes from 3 to
28% and is quenched to 27 to 45oC or 80oF to 113oF using stainless steel 316/316L
internal coils or heat exchanger. Metallic contaminants such as ferric and cupric ions act as

oxidizing agents. The austenitic stainless steels are also resistant to leaching process for
manganese ore as described in the following table:
Leaching of a reduced manganese ore
Leach liquor comprising of 130 g/l ammonium sulfate, 80 g/l manganese sulfate, 30 g/l
sulfuric acid with 5% solids, temperature 25 to 60oC, time : 30 days, no aeration, agitation:
150 rpm in 2.44 x 3.05 m (8 x 10) vessel
Alloy
Stainless steel 316
Stainless steel 304
Chemical lead
Nickel 200
Monel 400
Ni-resist grade 1
Gray cast iron

Corrosion rate
0.01
0.02
0.40
2.29
3.10
13.92
21.59

Remarks
0.5
0.7
15.8
90
122
548
850

Crevice corrosion
to a highest depth
of 0.41mm