Trends in fundamental research and development in the field of uranium hydrometallurgy

The main trends and developments in the field of complex use of uranium-containing raw material are considered. It is noted that the main flowsheets of uranium ore processing up till early 90-es would remain practically unchanged. At the same time some processes (grinding, separation of liquids and solids, sorption from non-clarified solutions) are revised. Hydrometallurgical processes of uranium extraction from low-grade and over-balanced ores are developed in the direction of obtaining new or improved processes and their equipment. The basic requirement to the new processes is decrease in the number of production operations. Ore-or combined grinding, filtration on horizontal band filters and sorption processes in sectioned columns with s suspension sorbent layer are to be widely spread. Sorption reprocessing of pulps is noted to be applied in industry only at several enterprises (3 in the USA, and 1 in France). But the way to a fast and cardinal solution of the problem is not pointed out. A lot of works are conducted to investigate the methods of radioactive waste decontamination that is necessary for the secceeding reliable waste removal