Sorption-Extraction Processes in Uranium Hydrometallurgy: Processing of Monometallic Uranium Ores

Abstract

The method used to develop sorption-extraction processes in uranium hydrometallurgy over the last 50 years is examined. The first-generation sorption-extraction processes, ionites, and apparatus are described. Data for the second-generation sorption-extraction technology and improvement of apparatus are generalized.

The third generation of these processes is characterized by the adoption of porous anionites AM-p and AMP-p in order to make the kinetic characteristics of the sorption and extraction processes closer to one another, by sorption leaching of uranium ores, and by adoption of double synergetic mixtures of extracting agents at the stage of repurification of the commercial reclaim and by the development of fast sorption processes for extracting uranium from productive solutions used in mound and underground leaching. The fourth-generation processes are characterized by the use of high-volume vinyl pyridine ionites, tertiary synergetic mixtures at the extraction stage, combined extraction-desorption processes, solid-phase regeneration of saturated ionites, and conversion of absorbed anions of uranyl-trisulfate into nitrate and chloride complexes. 1 figure.