METHOD OF PROCESSING CHEMICAL CONCENTRATE OF NATURAL URANIUM Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC C22B60/02 C22B3/06 C22B3/38 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: method involves leaching the concentrate with aqueous nitric acid solution at high temperature to obtain a pulp consisting a solid and an aqueous phase. The aqueous phase is then separated by filtration from the solid phase in form of uranium nitrate solution. Uranium is then extracted from the nitrate solution using tributyl phosphate in a hydrocarbon solvent. The extract is washed and uranium is re-extracted. Leaching is carried out by adding nitric acid and water in an amount which enables to obtain a nitrate solution in the aqueous phase of the pulp, said nitrate solution containing dissolved silicon in concentration of 2.5-3.7 g/l. The solid phase, which consists of insoluble concentrate residues, is separated by filtration from the solution which contains dissolved silicon, uranium in concentration of 170-250 g/l and nitric acid in concentration of 80-120 g/l. Filtration is carried out not more than 24 hours after leaching, preferably not more than 5 hours after leaching.

EFFECT: obtaining clean nuclear materials, suitable for producing uranium hexafluoride for enrichment.

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