Uranium Extraction from Syrian Phosphate: A Case Study

Abstract

Uranium and trace elements were studied in few hundred samples from phosphatic formations in Syria. Uranium and trace elements were enriched in phosphorites facies compared to carbonate and siliceous facies. Uranium content of Syrian phosphorite by fission track method shows that uranium is related to the aputite mineral and organic matter. The concentration of uranium in phosphatic elements depends on the quality of these elements (grains, biogenic-elements). Farther, uranium is relatively mobile during biomicritisation, couting and weathering. Investigation of uranium extraction from phosphoric acid produced at Homs plant (GFC) by using phosphate concentrate from Khocifiss and Charquich mines, have been carried out in a micro pilot and pilot plant scales. The results show that the yield of uranium extraction from H.PO, is more than 95.