INSITU Alkaline Reactions
Oxidation
  • UO2 + ½O2 = UO3
    Oxidation of Uraninite
  • 2Fe+2S2 + 7½O2 + H2O = Fe2(SO4)3 + H2SO4
    Oxidation of reduced iron to ferric
Leaching
  • UO3 + Na2CO3 + 2NaHCO3 = Na4UO2(CO3)3 + H2O
             pH > 8.0
  • UO3 + 4NaHCO3 + H2O = Na2UO2(HCO3)4 + 2NaOH
             pH < 8.0
Loading
  • R-4Cl-1 + UO2(CO3)3-4 = R-UO2(CO3)3-4 + 4Cl-1
    Ion exchange of uranyltricarbonate ion to resin (R), pH > 8.0
  • R-2Cl-1 + UO2(HCO3)4-2 = R-UO2(HCO3)4-2 + 2Cl-1
    Ion exchange of uranyldicarbonate ion to resin (R), pH < 8.0
Elution
  • R-UO2(CO3)3-4 + 4NaCl = R-4Cl-1 + Na4UO2(CO3)3
    Elution of Uranyltricarbonate
  • R-UO2(HCO3)4-2 + 2NaCl = R-2Cl-1 + Na2 UO2(HCO3)4
    Elution of Uranyldicarbonate
Two Step Precipitation
  • Na4UO2(CO3)3 + 6HCl = UO2Cl2 + 4NaCl + 3H2O + 3CO2
    Conversion of SodiumUranyltricarbonate to Uranyl Chloride
  • Na2UO2(HCO3)4 + 4HCl = UO2Cl2 + 2NaCl + 4H2O + 4CO2
    Conversion of SodiumUranyldicarbonate to Uranyl Chloride
  • UO2Cl2 + H2O2 + 2H2O = UO4•2H2O + 2HCl
    Precipitation of Uranyl Chloride to Uranium Oxide