A Simple Process for the Selective Extraction of Uranium from an Acid-Washed Uranium-Bearing Solution

Jun-Young Jung¹, Maengkyo Oh¹, Byung-Moon Jun², Tack-Jin Kim¹, Hee-Chul Eun^1,*

¹Radwaste Management Center, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111 Daedeok-daero 989beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea
²Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-dearo, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17104, Republic of Korea

Received 2025-02-06 ; Revised 2025-02-25 ; Approved 2025-03-11

Abstract

Acid-washed solutions containing various ions, including uranium, are produced by washing uranium-bearing soil or minerals with H₂SO₄. Conventional extraction processes are complex, as they involve multiple steps and generate significant amounts of radioactive organic waste, posing environmental risks. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a simplified process that can selectively extract uranium while minimizing radioactive waste production. In this study, thermodynamic equilibrium calculations were performed to investigate the selective extraction of uranium through its reaction with H₂O₂. A basic additive was introduced to facilitate this reaction. The calculation results indicated that uranium in acid-leached solutions could be selectively extracted through a single-step precipitation process, which was experimentally validated. These findings can be utilized to design an efficient process for obtaining high-purity uranium from uranium-bearing soil or minerals.

Key Words : Acid-washed solution, Uranium-contained soil or mineral, Precipitation, Selective extraction, High-purity uranium