Sorption-extraction processes in uranium hydrometallurgy: processing of monometallic uranium ores

The method used to develop sorption-extraction processes in uranium hydrome tallurgy over the last 50 years is examined. The first-generation sorption- extraction processes, ionites, and apparatus are described. Data for the se cond-generation sorption-extraction technology arid improvement of apparatu s are generalized. The third generation of these processes is characterized by the adoption of porous anionites AM-p mid AMP-p in order to make the kinetic characteristi cs of the sorption and extraction processes closer to one another, by sorpt ion leaching of uranium ores, and by adoption of double synergetic mixtures of extracting agents at the stage of repurification of the commercial recl aim arid by the development of fast sorption processes for extracting urani um from productive solutions used in mound and underground leaching. The fo urth-generation processes are characterized by the use of high-volume vinyl pyridine ionites, tertiary synergetic mixtures at the extraction stage; co mbined extraction-desorption processes solid phase regeneration of saturate d ionites, and conversion of absorbed anions of uranyl-trisulfate into nitr ate and chloride complexes. 1 figure.