INVESTIGATION OF THE ACID DESILICATION PROCESS OF INDUSTRIALLY SPENT ANION EXCHANGE RESIN

https://doi.org/10.48498/minmag.2026.257.9.003

Silicon fouling of strong-base anion-exchange resins reduces the efficiency of uranium recovery from pregnant solutions generated during in situ leaching. This study examined the acid desilication of industrially spent resin using HF and HF–HNO3 solutions. The effects of reagent concentration, solid-to-liquid ratio, and treat ment time were evaluated. Increasing the HF concentration and the solid-to-liquid ratio enhanced silicon removal. The highest desilication efficiency, 65.5%, was achieved with 2.0 M HNO3 + 0.5 M HF at an S:L ratio of 1:5, reducing the residual Si content to 3.81 wt.%. Most silicon was removed within the first 30–90 min, after which the rate decreased due to intraparticle diffusion limitations. article-size analysis showed that the resin beads largely retained their integrity after treatment. The HF–HNO3 system therefore offers a practical approach for regenerating silicon-fouled anion-exchange resins used in uranium hydrometallurgy.

B. T. Altaibayev, M. K. Kylyshkanov, *K. S. Togizov