This study focuses on the efficient extraction and recovery of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from chloride leach liquor of phosphogypsum using nanoclay-based composites. Phosphogypsum, a by-product of phosphoric acid production, was leached with hydrochloric acid to recover REEs alongside contaminants such as calcium and iron. The synthesized nanoclay composites, embedded with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and molybdenum (Mo), exhibited superior adsorption and elution efficiency compared to unmodified clay. The results demonstrate that Nano Clay/Ti+Mo achieved the highest adsorption capacity (165 mg/g) at optimal conditions (pH 4, 30 minutes, 1 g/L S/L ratio), with significant resistance to interference from phosphogypsum ions. The synergistic effects of Ti and Mo functional groups were evident, enhancing both adsorption and elution performance under competitive conditions. The elution study using 1 M nitric acid revealed that Nano Clay/Ti+Mo retained 100% elution efficiency, while Clay exhibited only 25% efficiency under similar conditions. The study underscores the critical role of material modifications, such as nanocomposite functionalization, in overcoming challenges associated with complex leachate systems. These findings offer a sustainable, cost-effective approach for REE recovery from industrial waste, with significant implications for resource optimization and environmental sustainability.
Heavy metal ions in water samples have potential hazard to human health. So, treatment of waste water is a necessity to decrease the levels of such hazard metals. The present study described a method for wastewater samples treatment using magnetic nanoparticles. Hematite nanoparticles (αFe2O3NPs) were synthesized and characterized using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The prepared αFe2O3NPs were used for solid phase adsorption of Pb2+ and Cu2+from aqueous solutions. The effects of various parameters, including solution pH, shaking time, and adsorbent dose on adsorption efficiency were investigated. Langmuir adsorption isotherm was effectively described the adsorption process onto αFe2O3NPs. The study found that Pb2+ and Cu2+adsorption was quantitative at pH 5.5, with maximum adsorption capacities of 200 mg g-1 and 15.3 mg g-1 for Pb2+ and Cu2+, respectively, under optimum conditions. This method was found to be applicable for the removal of Pb2+ and Cu2+from water samples.
The study area is located in the northern part of the Eastern Desert of Egypt. It is situated in the northern sector of Red Sea mountain ridges at about 65 km northwest of Hurghada City and is considered as one of high potentialities for uranium deposits. The study area comprises the younger granite of Gabal (G) Gattar, Hammamat sedimentary rocks of Gabal (G) Umm Tawat, Dokhan volcanic rocks in the centeral part of the area which are contacted northward by the younger granites of Gabal (G) Abu Harba. The younger granites are the most common rock type in the study area. There are two types of these granites: Gattar alkali feldspar granite to syenogranites and Abu Harba syenogranites. The structural deformations of the study area are represented by primary structures and secondary ones. The most prevailing structures are folding, faulting and jointing. The main trends of faults are NNE-SSW, NNW -SSE, N-S, NW-SE, NE-SW and WNW-ESE trends. All of these faults are of compression stress. The faults, especially those trending in the NNE-SSW and N-S are the main passways to the ascending uranium-bearing hydrothermal solutions. The study area is also affected by five main sets of joints trending NNE-SSW, N-S, NE-SW, WNW-ESE and NW-SE. All joints in the area are of tension stress. The gamma-activity measurements of the study area lead to the discovery of several occurrences. These occurrences are studied geologically, structurally and radiometrically in detail. The uranium content of the mineralized samples range from 155 ppm to 5570 ppm. The younger granites show higher radioactivity than that of the other rock types. It contains U and Th bearing minerals such as uranophane, thorite and zircon in addition to apatite, sphene and iron oxides which capture U and/or Th elements. Along GII occurrence the eU ranges from 59 to 4810 ppm with average 1271 ppm, while Th contents ranges from 13 to 270 ppm with an average 64ppm. At GV occurrence the eU ranges from 15 to 2740 ppm with an average 588, while Th contents range from 12 to 470 ppm with an average 90 ppm.
Wadi El Hora Phanerozoic alkaline trachyte dykes are located at the southern Eastern Desert of Egypt. These trachyte dykes are located between two strike-slip faults taking the N-S and NW-SE trend. The alkaline trachyte dykes consist essentially of feldspars (albite, oligoclase and sanidine), quartz, and alkali pyroxene (aegirine and aegirine-augite) with zircon, fluorite and opaques as accessory minerals, and finally kaoline and sericite as secondary minerals. The trachyte dykes are rich in high field strength elements Nb, Zr, and Y, they also exhibit typical extensional tectonic alkaline magmatisms and evolved in within plated environment. Rare earth elements (REE) patterns exhibit negative Eu anomalies and are largely uniform and heavily fractionated. These trachyte dykes could be considered as a good target for columbite and zircon exploration. According to a detailed spectrometric analysis, the radioelement concentrations are controlled by post magmatic redistribution since the eU/eTh ratio changed directly with eU concentrations and scattered with eTh. The radiometric measurements of trachyte dykes in the study area show a very wide variation in eU (0.6 – 197.1 ppm with an average 43.73) and eTh (2.4 – 626.3 ppm with an average 109.35) contents. The mineralogical study confirms the presence of kasolite, columbite, zircon, fluorite, molybdenite, monazite, pyrite and ilmenite minerals.
Rare earth elements (REEs) are crucial raw materials for 'smart' electronic devices and emerging renewable energy resources.Accordingly, the global attention for the secondary REEs resources such as phosphate rock is increased.Recognizing effective leaching of REEs from phosphate rock is essential from a strategic perspective for addressing the world demand highly growth rate.The present study investigates the leaching of REEs from phosphate rock using sulfuric acid.The impact of the main variables on the leaching performance was examined.Design of experiments (DoE) methodology was applied for optimization the REEs leaching process.The anticipated data declare that about 96.6% leaching percent could be achieved according to the following conditions: 1.5 M sulfuric acid concentration, 30 mL/ g as liquid/ solid ratio, 55 o C reaction temperature and stirring time of 1.0 hr.shrinking core model (SCM) was applied to explore the kinetic attitude of REEs leaching process.The exhibited results deduced that leaching process is well depicted using the ash layer diffusion kinetic model.In addition, the activation of energy of REEs leaching process was found to be equal 9.01 kJ/mol.
El-Gezira ring complex represents an important alkaline association in the south Eastern Desert, Egypt display crescent-shaped bodies and vast diversity of lithologies. It consists of several concentric rings separated by arch-shaped bodies of alkali gabbros, pyroclastics and hybrid rocks. The outer ring of El Gezira is composed of metavolcanics and basaltic andesitic flows. The inner part comprises carbonate, pyroxene bearing syenite, monzosyenite, trachyte, trachy-andesite and trachydacite. Clinopyroxenes are the prevailing mafics components in most rocks varieties. Amphiboles and olivine are common in most basic units. El Gezira ring complex comprises a high fractures frequency. El Gezira ring complex is one of a major cluster of ring complexes aligned along an ENE transform fault in the extreme southern part of Egypt. Chemically, El Gezira rock-associations are mostly metaluminous, and show low concentrations of CaO, MgO and Sr. Moreover alkalis, Rb, Nb, Y, and REE are relatively high which is distinctive of anorogenic affinity. The alkali gabbros have flat REE patterns with slight positive Eu anomalies. The trachyandesite, trachydacite and monzosyenite all have weakly to moderately fractionated patterns with a general enrichment in LREE, and mostly possess a pronounced positive and negative Eu anomalies. Typically, El-Gezira alkaline associations are classified as within plate granites. It is suggested that the primitive mantle mafic magmas were emplaced into intracrustal magma chambers during extensional regime. The primitive magma underwent fractionation processes to give the highly evolved liquids. Influx of more hot primitive magma may promote dynamic convection, crustal assimilation and eruption of the volcanic alkaline association filling fractures during post orogenic regimes.
Mineralogical, geochemical and radioactive studies were carried out on both the granitic rocks of Gabal Adedia and its associated quartz-fluorite veins. The radioactive fluorite veins are filling the fissures and fractures of the host granite at the base of Gabal Adedia, the fluorite present in two forms as coarse-grained crystals disseminated in the younger granite or associated with quartz veins. The mineralogical investigations of the younger granite and its associated quartz-fluorite veins revealed the presence of secondary uranium mineral (kasolite), in addition to uranothorite, Fergusonite, monazite, allanite, bastnaesite, fluorite, zircon, xenotime, apatite, pyrite, barite, galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, covellite, bornite and atacamite. The studied granite and associated quartz-fluorite veins show enrichment in some rare metals (Cu,Zn,Zr,Y,Ba,Pb,Nb,U and Th) mineralizations. Multistage deformation, magmatic and hydrothermal processes accompanied by the events of uranium mineralization with the associated rare metals mineralization in different episodes affected Gabal Adedia. The normalized REE pattern of the younger granite and associated fluorite-quartz veins display negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu*= 0.54, 0.76) respectively. The younger granite is characterized by enrichment of LREE, in contrary the fluorite-quartz veins are enriched in HREE. Allanite, bastnaesite and monazite which are the most important REE carriers in this granite. These minerals are strongly enriched in LREE, whereas fluorite and xenotime which are more abundant in fluorite-quartz veins are enriched in HREE. The negative cerium (Ce) anomolia indicate high oxygen (O) fugacity at the source of the hydrothermal fluids. Positive yttrium (Y) anomalia articulate strong complexation with fluorite (F). The studied rocks have slightly high uranium and thorium contents, the younger granite have average U content is 27 ppm and the average of Th content is 54.4 ppm while in fluorite-quartz veins the average U content is 152.4 ppm and the average of Th content is 57.8 ppm.
El Sela area is mainly covered by ophiolitic mélange (Sul Hamed), biotite granite, two-mica granite (El Sela), muscovite granites (Qash Amer), and cross cut by microgranite dolerite and bostonite dikes as well as quartz and japser veins.These granitic rocks are hydrothermally altered, especially around El Sela ENE-WSW shear zone, that causing hydrothermal alterations accompanied by radioactive mineralization.These rocks are mainly composed of alkali feldspar, quartz, muscovite, and biotite with zircon, fluorite, apatite and iron oxides as an accessory minerals.The radioactive minerals are represented by uranophane, autunite, meta-autunite and phurcalite which are restricted in the highly sheared microgranite, dolerite dikes as well as jasper veins.Uranium contents (eU) range from 10.1 to 17.7 ppm at Qash Amer with their thorium contents (eTh) vary from 5.8 to 22.7 ppm.El Sela granites have uranium contents (eU) range from 6.4 to 19.7 ppm with equivalent thorium content (eTh) range between 14.0 and 44.9 ppm.The eU-eTh, (eU/ eTh)-eU and eU-[eU+(eTh X 3.5)] diagrams show depletion of uranium for both the Qash Amer and El Sela granitic samples, suggesting that uranium may be leached out of the original rock towards the ENE-WSW and NNW-SSE shear zones.The migrated uranium (Um) amount was calculated and indicated as either migration out or migration in at Qash Amer and El Sela granites, mostly to the shear zone cutting through the area.Absorbed Dose Rate (D), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external (Hex) and internal (Hin) hazard index, in addition to activity gamma index (Iγ) caused by gamma emitter natural radionuclide were determined from the obtained values of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K.Most of the studied samples have radiological parameters values higher than the international recommended values suggesting that El Sela and Qash Amer granitic rocks are hazardous and not recommended for use as ornamental stones with respect to workers and human beings.
The studied dyke is a famous U-bearing microgranite dyke located in Wadi Um Doweila that extends for10.6 km in the northeast direction. The dyke and its surrounding metavolcanics are suffering from a series of sub-parallel faults trending NW. The dyke is mainly of granitic composition characterized by grayish pink color where the potash feldspar is the main feldspar. It is fine-grained rock with obvious porphyritic texture and it is dominated by zircon, apatite, monazite and fluorite as the main accessory minerals beside uranophane as the main uranium mineral. The geochemistry of the dyke shows that it originated from calc-alkaline magma type, which developed a postorogenic and within plate tectonic setting. The distribution and contents of U, Th and Zr suggest that they are controlled by the fractional crystallization of small amount of accessory minerals due to the incompatible behavior. The study of the metasomatized parts of the dyke indicated that most of the Th and 50% U are found in the accessory minerals. The remainder of U is deposited in the inter-granular spaces and in the newly formed hydrothermal minerals such as as sericite and Fe- oxides. Such U accumulations at labile sites probably constitute the potential source of U which leached,- mobilized and redeposited by the convicting hydrothermal fluids along the faults and probably led to the formation of the secondary uranophane mineralization in the central and southern parts of the dyke. The uranium concentrations appear to be structurally controlled.
The pegmatites of Gabal Suwair and Gabal Khosh Daba area are situated in the north of St. Katherine city, South-Central Sinai.The studied pegmatites considered to be the youngest outcropped rocks following the arc granitoids and the post-collision granites.They show numerous radioactive anomalies along different zones in the studied area and spatially belong to the zoned and unzoned both types of pegmatites.The radiometric investigations of the anomalous pegmatite show that their maximum equivalent uranium content (eU) is reaching up to 670 ppm while their eTh is reaching up 180 ppm at Gabal Khosh Daba pegmatites.While the maximum eU and eTh contents at Gabal Suwair pegmatite are 520 and 330 ppm respectively.The integrated mineralogical studies revealed the occurrence of uranium minerals (i.e.uraninite, brannerite and carnotite) as discrete large crystals in the zoned pegmatites; while the unzoned ones enclosed samarskite, betafite, tanteuxenite, uranothorite and thorianite.The presence of uraninite (primary mineral) at the zoned pegmatite suggest their syngenetically origin during magmatic processes, while, the secondary uranium minerals presented in the unzoned pegmatite as fissure filling are most probably related to the hydrothermal activity.Accordingly, the studied widespread mineralized pegmatite could be a promising area for uranium and thorium exploration and evaluation.post-orogenic granites (El-Gaby, 1975).Many radioactive occurrences have been recorded along different localities of the Saint Catherine area and south-Central Sinai.However, the radioactive mineralization is mainly restricted to the granite pegmatite bodies associated with the monzogranite and syenogranite rocks.The geology and radioactivity of the areas were studied by many authors (
The main objective of the present study is to build a spatial model of the geotechnical properties and radiometric measurements for site selection of urban extension at the study area by using geographic information systems (GIS) techniques to develop and analyze a site model and also to make sound decisions and to plan site activities at the New Alamein City.In the geotechnical site evaluations and radioactive measurements, GIS can be used in four methods, data integration, data visualization and analysis, planning and summarizing site activities, and data presentation.The integrated data can be displayed as contour maps; manipulated and analyzed using tools built into the GIS programs, thus creating the geotechnical and radioactive site model of the study area.Explanation of these data needs the spatial location to integrate into the analysis.Mechanical and physical properties of the soil, chemical analysis, and radioactive data are weighted.Finally, the weighted maps are integrated using a GIS based on the construction purposes for the new extension of New Alamein City for note worthy cost savings in design, construction, and long life.The very high and high zones highest regime has been observed towards the most of the study area but the moderate zones are observed toward the northern side of the area and the low is the smallest zone toward the southern side of the study area.
The present study aims to integrate spectral analysis results of multispectral Landsat-8 and ASTER data besides airborne gamma-ray spectrometric data in geologic and radiometric mapping as well as alteration types of Wadi Fatirah area, North Eastern Desert, Egypt.The applied image processing techniques comprising Color Band Composites, Principal Component Analysis, Crosta technique and Band Ratio were efficient in lithological units discrimination and alteration types identification.The airborne gamma-ray spectrometric maps discriminate the younger granites in the study area but it could not differentiate between their phases.The remote sensing products are verified by detailed field, petrographic and radiometric analysis.The results are elaborated as a precise geological map of 1:50,000 scale with metavolcanics (oldest), older granitoids, Dokhan volcanics, younger gabbros, younger granites and post granitic dikes and pegmatites (youngest) rock units, and tracing the hydrothermal alterations in form of propylitic, phyllic and gossan as well as illite, kaolinite, limonite, hematite, ferromagnesian and hydroxyl distribution maps.Additionally, the radioactive anomalies are mainly related to the younger granites and pegmatite bodies that mainly associated with ferrugination (iron oxides and hydroxides alteration).The most promising radioactivity are delineated as pegmatite bodies at Wadi Abu Zawal and Wadi Abu Shihat.
The studied Miocene sandstone and shale rocks are belonging to El-Ranga Formation.Petrographically, the sampled sandstone is classified as sublitharenite with evidence on variable transportation distances and derivation from sedimentary, igneous and/or metamorphic rocks.The iron oxides appear as the dominant cementation while quartz is the main matrix material in this sandstone.On the other hand, the shale appears as silty-to sandy shale consisting of fine to very fine, subangular to angular and moderate to poor sorted grains.Mutual bands of the black manganese oxides and brownish-yellow iron oxides are sometimes observed with indication of silica-rich solutions post-dated the formation of these bands.Geochemically, the studied rocks were confirmed as sublitharenite and shale rich in iron.The active continental margin and island arc appeared the probable tectonic settings for Um-Greifat sandstone and shale, respectively.The quartzose sedimentary provenance and the mafic igneous provenance are expected as the primary provenances for the sandstone and shale respectively.The total REE content in the sandstone samples ranged between 0.49% and 0.83% while in the shale samples it ranged from 288 to 526 ppm and the accessory minerals are the main factor controlling the REE concentration and distribution particularly in Um-Greifat sandstone.
