Russia (bbabo.net), - Scientists at the Ural Federal University have found a way to process radioactive uranium-containing sludge. The technology has already been tested on the waste of one of the enterprises. It can help process waste dumps and provide industry with uranium and other useful materials.

According to the press service of the university, sludge with a low level of activity was processed, the uranium content in it was only a tenth of a percent. The samples contained gypsum, calcium carbonate and fluoride, silicon oxide, and thaumasite (rather rare mineral). There is a lot of such waste accumulated and they need to be recycled.

At the first stage, the samples were leached with sulfuric acid, changing its concentration, as well as the exposure time and temperature. So scientists have found out under what parameters the process is most efficient. As a result, a uranium-containing solution was obtained.

During leaching, the activity of alpha and beta radiation of the insoluble residue is reduced by 2.5-3 times compared to the initial composition. Therefore, it can also be used in production.

At the second stage, with the help of various manipulations, the concentration of uranium was increased by 3-8 times. Then the concentrated uranium solution was neutralized and a solid residue (yellow cake) was obtained, the uranium content of which was 68.54 percent - this corresponds to the international quality standard.

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