Possibility of uranium and rare metal recovery in the Polish copper mining industry

Abstract

Wastes originating from copper mining create a big problem regarding their quantity and toxicity. However, they are a source of valuable metals, and new hydrometallurgical technologies are becoming more economical in the recovery of these metals. In most cases, the leach liquor also contains uranium which can be easily recovered. This paper reports on the results of a universal method for the extraction of uranium (with the possibility of other valuable metals) from different raw materials (ground ores and/or flotation wastes). An innovative process of uranium dioxide synthesis by the sol–gel technique has been developed as well. The synergistic effect of the application of both techniques (extraction and sol–gel) led to the elaboration of a consistent technology for the recovery of uranium from copper mining materials and wastes. The direct method (with the possibility of elimination the precipitation step) of uranium dioxide synthesis can be used to generate a nuclear fuel precursor for present and future generation nuclear reactors, e.g. pressurized heavy water reactors or fast breeder reactors.