Improvement of the Sorption Technology for Extracting Uranium from Solutions and Pulps

A method of sorption extraction of uranium from solutions and pulps containing macroscopic and trace impurities by anionites with gel or porous structure has been developed. An anionite saturated in the initial solution or pulp is treated with a solution of an alkaline agent, to which an alkaline-metal salt is added, and is presaturated with uranium in a period of 2-5 h in contact with a commercial-grade desorbate. This scheme makes it possible to intensify sorption extraction by decreasing the presaturation time, decrease the consumption of reagents and sorbent by increasing the uranium sorption capacity and selectivity, increase the quality of the finished product, and prevent impurity metals from poisoning the ionite.