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Power Resources, Inc.'s Central Processing
Plant near Douglas, Wyoming. Photograph courtesy of Power Resources, Inc.
In the main plant, the resin is eluted, a process which involves stripping
the uranium off of the resin and into a saline, alkaline solution. The
uranium is then precipitated from the solution, often using hydrochloric
acid (HCl) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The hydrochloric acid lowers
the pH of the solution while the hydrogen peroxide changes the Eh of the
solution. The uranium precipitates as a yellow sludge. This sludge is
then dried in a multiple hearth roaster in the main plant and packaged
as a powder called yellowcake. |
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Crow Butte Resources,
Inc.'s Processing Plant. Note the liquid oxygen storage tank to the left
of the plant building. Photograph courtesy of Crow Butte Resources, Inc. |
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At the Central Processing
Plant ion exchange resin loaded with uranium at the satellite plants
is eluted (stripped). The uranium is removed from the resin and precipitated
and dried. The loaded resin is transported to the Central Plant in a
resin trailer. It is pumped into the elution (stripping) column. The
resin is then treated with eluant (stripping solution) composed of water,
salt (to add chloride) and soda ash (to maintain high pH and carbonate
levels). The uranium on the resin is exchanged for the chloride ions
in the stripping solution and is complexed by the carbonate. It is then
precipitated from the stripping solution with hydrochloric acid and
ammonia. The resulting uranium bearing slurry is washed, dewatered and
dried. Drying can be performed at high temperature in a calciner (multiple
hearth roaster) or at low temperature in a rotary vacuum dryer. The
dried product is barreled in 17H drums and shipped to the converter.
This drawing is courtesy of Power Resources, Inc.
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