Greenhouse Plans

Uranium Recovery Converts Swords to Plowshares

Uranium recovery and uranium recycling have both become crucial to the nuclear renaissance. To support the growing demand for uranium, governments have begun releasing supplies of highly enriched uranium. This uranium is enriched in the Uranium-235 (U-235) fissile isotope. The level of enrichment can be 50 to 95%, and is used for navy nuclear reactor fuel and nuclear weapons. This material is called high-enriched uranium (HEU).

There is currently an excess of such material and a downblending pathway now exists which can provide a significant amount of fuel for commercial nuclear reactors. Commercial nuclear reactors use natural uranium and a variety of enrichments from natural to 5% U-235, known as low-enriched

uranium (LEU). LEU is typically produced from the uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas processed through the gaseous diffusion plants that increase the amount of % U-235. The UF6 is derived from yellowcake, or uranium oxide purified from the mining process. The downblending process produces the same commercial LEU but through a different process, from HEU sources instead of natural uranium sources.

Downblending operations are currently underway in the United States. HEU is dissolved with nitric acid and then blended with depleted or natural uranium to bring the enrichment back down to about 5%, resulting in a uranyl nitrate (UNH) LEU solution. The UNH is transported to another facility where it is converted back to uranium oxide

in a process known as the ammonium diuranate (ADU) process. The uranium is precipitated from the UNH solution using ammonium hydroxide, and the resulting precipitate is then dried and calcined into a uranium dioxide powder. The powder is formed into pellets, which then go into fuel rods. The fuel rods are then fabricated into fuel bundles that are inserted into nuclear reactors. Each pellet of uranium, about the size of an eraser on a fat pencil, has the incredible energy equivalent of 3 cords of wood, or 3 barrels of fuel oil. Nuclear energy is the only technology capable of adding large quantities of reliable base-load electricity to the grid without the risks and costs associated with greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

The demand for uranium will continue to increase as China, India, and Russia plan to build new reactors in the next few decades. This is a significant step in nuclear non-proliferation agreements between world powers. The same approach is being used for plutonium, which behaves similarly to U-235. Barring any significant recession or depression in these economies, companies that produce or own uranium will continue to be recommended for investment purposes.

Richard KimuraRich Kimura is a project engineering manager, freelance writer, and entrepreneur. He has numerous technical papers, 1 patent and 2 pending, and 24 years experience in industry. He started numerous home businesses and has Crown Financial training.

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