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Title: Inherently safe in situ uranium recovery

Abstract

An in situ recovery of uranium operation involves circulating reactive fluids through an underground uranium deposit. These fluids contain chemicals that dissolve the uranium ore. Uranium is recovered from the fluids after they are pumped back to the surface. Chemicals used to accomplish this include complexing agents that are organic, readily degradable, and/or have a predictable lifetime in an aquifer. Efficiency is increased through development of organic agents targeted to complexing tetravalent uranium rather than hexavalent uranium. The operation provides for in situ immobilization of some oxy-anion pollutants under oxidizing conditions as well as reducing conditions. The operation also artificially reestablishes reducing conditions on the aquifer after uranium recovery is completed. With the ability to have the impacted aquifer reliably remediated, the uranium recovery operation can be considered inherently safe.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1130304
Patent Number(s):
8708422
Application Number:
13/084,391
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C02 - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE C02F - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2011 Apr 11
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY

Citation Formats

Krumhansl, James L, and Brady, Patrick V. Inherently safe in situ uranium recovery. United States: N. p., 2014. Web.
Krumhansl, James L, & Brady, Patrick V. Inherently safe in situ uranium recovery. United States.
Krumhansl, James L, and Brady, Patrick V. Tue . "Inherently safe in situ uranium recovery". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1130304.
@article{osti_1130304,
title = {Inherently safe in situ uranium recovery},
author = {Krumhansl, James L and Brady, Patrick V},
abstractNote = {An in situ recovery of uranium operation involves circulating reactive fluids through an underground uranium deposit. These fluids contain chemicals that dissolve the uranium ore. Uranium is recovered from the fluids after they are pumped back to the surface. Chemicals used to accomplish this include complexing agents that are organic, readily degradable, and/or have a predictable lifetime in an aquifer. Efficiency is increased through development of organic agents targeted to complexing tetravalent uranium rather than hexavalent uranium. The operation provides for in situ immobilization of some oxy-anion pollutants under oxidizing conditions as well as reducing conditions. The operation also artificially reestablishes reducing conditions on the aquifer after uranium recovery is completed. With the ability to have the impacted aquifer reliably remediated, the uranium recovery operation can be considered inherently safe.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Tue Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}

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