METHOD FOR RECOVERY OF SOLID AND/OR LIQUID URANIUM-CONTAINING WASTES Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: recovery of solid and/or liquid uranium-containing wastes. SUBSTANCE: method involves uranium leaching from solid wastes, concentration of solutions, their extraction using tributyl phosphate in organic thinner, and precipitation of ammonium polyurethanes from re-extracts. Concentration is effected by precipitation of ammonium polyurethanes from source fluorine- containing solutions followed by their rinsing with solutions containing ammonium nitrate in the amount of 0.5-1.5 mole/l. During extraction solutions under treatment are doped with iron so as iron-to-fluorine mass- content ratio is 0.5-0.7 in order to ensure admissible uranium content in raffinate. Residual uranium content in raffinate is determined proceeding from uranium-to-fluorine mass-content ratio to be minimum 5. Then ammonium polyurethanes are extracted from re-extracts by ammonia precipitation. EFFECT: reduced amount of solutions and solid wastes conveyed to disposal area; reduced cost of chemical agents and equipment maintenance charges. 6 cl, 7 tbl