Grazyna Zakrzewska-TrznadelAgnieszka Miskiewicz

Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology

Dorodna 14, Warsaw, Poland

Region Identified resources

Predicted resources

Uranium content in

oreDeposit

typeUnat. [ton] Unat. [ton] ppm

Rajsk 5320 88 850 250 Black shales

Okrzeszyn 940 ? 500-1100 Other

Grzmiąca 790 ? 500 Sandstone tabular

Wambierzyce 220 2 000 236 Black shales

Baltic region ? 10 000 ? Sandstone tabular

Grand total 7270 t ⇒ > 45 y NPP 1000 MW

100 000 t ⇒ >625 y NPP 1000 MW

OECD NEA Red Book, 2008

�1850 – 1948; Sudeten Mountains: 1) Kowary (8 t of uraninite, magnetite mine),2) Miedzianka,3) Janowa Góra,�1948 – 1973;

a) Sudeten Mountains: - Kowary (uranium mine „Wolność”1954-1973), - Kletno near Stronie Śląskie in ŚnieŜnik massif,(1948-1953)

- Radoniów near Gryfów Śląski (tectonic area in metamorphic Izerskie Mountains

- Kopaniec near Jelenia Górab) Świętokrzyskie Mountains: Rudki near Nowa Słupia

In total: 650 - 850 t (U)

„Polish Energy Policy until 2030”� Nuclear energy as an option for ensuring the national

energy security� Development of nuclear power energy enable economic

development of the country� Implementation of nuclear power program enables

reduction of CO2 emission. Polish government has beenobligated to reduction of CO2 emission in Brussels in2008.According to resolution (January 13th 2009) concerning nuclear

power program development and implementation two nuclear power plants will be built in future.

The first nuclear power plant in Poland is expected to be put inoperation around the year 2020.

� Selection of localisation for Nuclear Power Plant� Information campaign� Research and training programs – scientific

and technical support for first Nuclear Power Plant in Poland- analysis of uranium domestic resources- assessment of domestic sources explorationpossibility

Operative Programme – Innovative Economy (PO IG)

Materials under investigation:� Solid : ores, waste� Liquids: solutions from leaching and extraction processesMethods:� X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) – preliminary

analysis of material composition� Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS),

Ion Chromatography (IC), High Performance LiquidChromatography, (HPLC) – analysis of uranium and accompanying metals like thorium, molybdenum, vanadium,arsenic. � Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) – results quality

assurance

NH3 or MgO or H2O2

Tailing dispolal

H2SO4Oxidant

UraniumOxide Concentrate

Ore

NaOH

Tailing disposal

Air orOxygen

Uranium Oxide Concentrate

Ore

Na2CO3

Acid –leaching process Alkaline–leaching process

C.R. Edwards, A.J. Oliver, Uranium processing: A rewiew of current Methods and Technology, JCM, Sept. 2000

1. Multistage, counter-current system for uranium leaching - enhancement of uranium extraction efficiency- reduction of waste amount- minimisation of reagents end energy consumption

2. Optimisation of leaching process taking into account such process parameters as: ore particle size, temperature of process, pH, acid and oxidant concentration, residence time on the single stage of process.

3. Concentration of post-leaching uranium solution with utilisation of heat from concentrated acid dilution. Heated uranium solution will be introduced to membrane distillation system for clean water and uranium concentrate production.

4. Application of contactors with high-tech membrane for uranium concentrate purification.

5. Design and construction of effective system for concentrate purification – cascade of extractors.

Methods of [UO2(CO3)3]4- and [UO2(SO4)3]4- ions separation from post-leaching solution:1.Ion exchange or ion exchange/solvent extraction (IX or IX/SX)

- strong alkaline resins (quaternary amines)- weak alkaline resins (tertiary amines)

2. Membrane distillation/solvent extraction (MD/SX)- ceramic or PTFE membrane

3. Solvent extraction (SX)- di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA)- trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO)- carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO)- N,N,N’,N’-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (TODGA)- 2-(2-hexyloxy-ethyl)-N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dioctyl-malonamide (DMDOHEMA)- 5,14-N,N’-hydroxyphenyl-4,15-dioxo-1,5,14,18-tetraaza hexacosane(NHDTAHA)

�Post-leaching cooper concentratesLubin-Sieroszowice – 60 ppm U in ore body, 48 mln t of copper and 144 000 t of uranium.The first steps namely: milling, leaching, separationas well as waste treatment are like those used inuranium ore treatment.Uranium can be also supplied from waste productafter flotation in cooper industry (80 g/t of uranium).�Phosphoric acidDuring phosphoric acid production 80% of uraniumfrom phosphorite pass into the product.

1. Application of the contactor with high-tech membrane for uranium selective extraction from copper concentrates

2. Elaboration of new technology for uranium recovery from phosphoric acid using membrane process- environmental protection – less uraniumconcentration in phosphate fertilizers and in thewaste generated during their production.

- Poland commenced nuclear programme; the first NPP is scheduled for 2020, the next plants will be constructed in subsequent years. This induces an assessment of indigenous resources of uranium as a potential fuel for Polish NPPs;- Even though the exploitation of Polish mineral deposits is not economic now taking into account low concentration of uranium in the ores and low world uranium prices, the country entering nuclear power programme should know its potential to supply the fuel from the own resources;- The project will allow to prepare the set of methods and technologies that will be ready for eventual implementation in nuclear industry to extract uranium from the ores and other sources;- The studies on uranium extraction and development of related technologies enable the building the research infrastructure andeducation of the specialists that will be necessary to support the Polish nuclear programme