Recently, a team of researchers from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (also known as KAERI) has made a major breakthrough in the field of uranium extraction. The development of an innovative and environmentally friendly technology, which allows obtaining uranium with a purity of 95%, has sparked the interest of the scientific community and the nuclear industry, both for its efficiency and for its ability to significantly reduce waste generation.
On Tuesday, KAERI announced that its research team has succeeded in creating a method to extract uranium from solutions containing various metals through a controlled precipitation reaction (a chemical process that allows uranium to be separated from the rest of the metals present in the liquid solution. This method is based on inducing a reaction that causes the uranium to transform into a solid compound, which can then be separated from the solution). The advance, which has already been patented nationally and is being prepared for registration in other countries, represents a major step forward in radioactive waste management.
The new method achieves a purity of 95%
Eun Heechul, a researcher at KAERI’s Radioactive Waste Management Office, is primarily responsible for the discovery. He explained that after identifying the optimal conditions for a selective reaction with uranium using specific nitrogen compounds, his team was able to precipitate uranium with a purity of 95%. This process involves adding nitrogen compounds and hydrogen peroxide to the solution in which uranium is dissolved, allowing for its extraction in a single phase.
The purity obtained through this new technology far exceeds the levels of conventional methods, which require multiple stages to reach a purity ranging from 75% to 85%. This advance has significant implications for the industry, as it not only increases efficiency in uranium recovery, but also reduces operating costs by simplifying the process.
An environmentally friendly technology for uranium recycling: reducing waste and costs
One of the highlights of this technology is its ecological approach. According to the KAERI press release, the new technique will allow uranium from radioactive waste to be recycled, reducing by more than 50% the amount of secondary waste generated during the decontamination process of soils and materials contaminated with uranium. By reducing waste, the costs of handling and final disposal of this waste are also minimized, making the process both environmentally and economically beneficial.
The research, which began in 2021 with support from South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT, represents a significant advance in radioactive waste management technology. In addition, the institution plans to register international patents for this technology in major uranium-producing countries, which will allow it to expand into the global market.
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A leader in nuclear energy innovation
Kim Tackjin, director of the Radioactive Waste Management Center at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, highlighted the potential impact of this discovery: “This is the best uranium extraction technology developed in the world so far. It is sure to revolutionize the field of uranium refining.” The director also assured that KAERI will position itself as a leader in the global uranium market, which will contribute to stabilizing the supply and demand of this resource at the national level.
This technological breakthrough not only consolidates South Korea’s position as a benchmark for innovation in the field of nuclear energy, but also offers an efficient, more economical and, above all, sustainable solution to one of the major challenges of the nuclear industry: radioactive waste management. With the prospect of reducing costs and improving sustainability, KAERI’s new technology could have a profound impact on the future of nuclear energy worldwide.
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