RECOVERY OF URANIUM FROM DILUTE URANIUM SOLUTION BY FIBROUS ANION EXCHANGERS

With use of fibrous anion exchangers as adsorbents, a study on the recovery of uranium from dilute uranium solutions of various uranium mine exhausts was carried out.The fibrous anion exchangers showed adsorptive capacities adequate for the recovery of uranium from various uranium solutions such as sulfuric acid leach liquor, alkaline leach liquor, rain water leach liquor, mine water, and so on.Compared with conventional ion exchange resins, the fibrous anion exchanger had higher adsorption velocity and better dispersion property in solution. For the effective adsorption, stirring adsorption method in which the adsorbent is dispersed in the solutions was found to be most suitable. Repetitive adsorption test of counter-current 2-step method by the stirring method was carried out with use of sulfuric acid leach liquor of containing 34.6 ppm uranium.A stable recovery of 98% of uranium and 60 times concentration ratio were proved.Floating method was tried successfully in order to collect fibrous adsorbent from the treated solution.