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):
- 8,708,422
- Application Number:
- 13/084,391
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
- 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 = {2014},
month = {4}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Sorption of Isosaccharinic Acid, a Cellulose Degradation Product, on Cement
journal, April 1997
- Van Loon, L. R.; Glaus, M. A.; Stallone, S.
- Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 31, Issue 4
Acidity and Structure of Isosaccharinate in Aqueous Solution: A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study
journal, August 2003
- Cho, Herman; Rai, Dhanpat; Hess, Nancy J.
- Journal of Solution Chemistry, Vol. 32, Issue 8
Complexation of Calcium by alpha-Isosaccharinic Acid under Alkaline Conditions.
journal, January 1999
- Vercammen, Karlien; Glaus, Martin Alfred; Van Loon, Luc Robert
- Acta Chemica Scandinavica, Vol. 53
Control of pyrite oxidation by phosphate coating
journal, January 1995
- Nyavor, K.; Egiebor, N.
- Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 162, Issue 2-3