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Experimental study of different admixture effects on the porosity and U(VI) leaching characteristics of uranium tailing solidified bodies in acid rain environments

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Abstract

The low pH of acid rain can significantly affect the amount of solidified heavy metals that leach into contaminated soil. A series of laboratory tests were performed to better understand the pore structure and uranium (VI) leaching characteristics of solidified uranium tailings using different mineral admixtures under acid rain conditions. Different proportions of cement, slag powder, and metakaolin were combined to solidify the uranium tailings, and the samples were soaked for 0–60 days in a simulated acid rain solution. Nuclear magnetic resonance was used to measure the sample porosity before and after immersion, and the U(VI) concentration was measured using ultraviolet and visible spectrometry after immersion. The sample microstructures were tested by scanning electron microscopy. The sample porosities ranged between 3.4% and 6.5% and gradually decreased with increasing amount of mineral admixture. The U(VI) leaching rate and cumulative leaching fraction also gradually decreased with increasing admixture amount. The sample porosity increased with increasing immersion time and the U(VI) leaching rate initially rapidly decreased and then stabilized. The U(VI) cumulative leaching fraction and porosity were the lowest in the samples with 20% metakaolin, and the sample porosity and U(VI) cumulative leaching fraction showed an inverted S-shaped curve.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Hunan Province, China (grant no. 20A422), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 11875164), Project Approved by Hunan Province Engineering Research Center of Radioactive Control Technology in Uranium Mining and Metallurgy and Hunan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Uranium Tailings Treatment Technology (grant no. 2018YKZX1004), Open Fund Project of Hunan Cooperative Innovation Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technology and Equipment (grant no. 2019KFZ01), Innovation Foundation for Postgraduate Set by University of South China (grant no. 203YXC006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resource & Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Fuliang Jiang, Zhe Wang, Guan Chen, Yong Liu, Haonan Wu, Biao Tan, Chao Zhang & Yuying Hao

  2. Hunan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Uranium Tailings Treatment Technology, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Fuliang Jiang & Yong Liu

  3. Hunan Province Engineering Research Center of Radioactive Control Technology in Uranium Mining, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Fuliang Jiang & Yong Liu

  4. Hengyang City Key Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health Technology, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Fuliang Jiang

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  1. Fuliang Jiang
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  2. Zhe Wang
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  3. Guan Chen
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  4. Yong Liu
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Correspondence to Fuliang Jiang.

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Jiang, F., Wang, Z., Chen, G. et al. Experimental study of different admixture effects on the porosity and U(VI) leaching characteristics of uranium tailing solidified bodies in acid rain environments. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 329, 1375–1385 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07887-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07887-6

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