Nuclear pure uranium from ores using weak base ion exchange resins

Presently the uranium requirements of India's nuclear energy programme are met from uranium mines of Uranium Corporation of India Limited located in Singhbhum District, Bihar. The process followed for treating the ores involves leaching of uranium with dilute sulphuric acid, followed by separation of uranium by the conventional strong base anion exchange technique. The final product is yellow cake (mangnesium diuranate) which is sent to Nuclear Fuel Complex, Hyderabad for refining to nuclear purity and conversion to reactor fuel. There, uranium is refined to nuclear purity by solvent extraction process carried out in a nitric acid medium. Laboratory studies have been carried out on the feasibility of obtaining the nitrate solution directly from the ion exchange resin so that the final purification of uranium to nuclear grade can be carried out at the mine-head itself, thus eliminating several process steps. In this paper, the data collected on two resin samples - one Indian and one imported - are presented. It has been shown that it is possible to obtain nuclear grade uranium product directly from the ore under certain conditions using weak-base anion exchanger. A tentative process flow sheet is also presented. (author). 4 refs., 1 figs., 1 tab