Urals employ new technology in extracting metals from … – Russian Gazette

Scientists at Federal University of
 Urals (UrFU, its acronym in Russian) developed a unique technology to extract
 the rare earth elements from uranium ore.

The technique consists in creating a
 this extraction allows adsorbent. In the course of three years it is planned to
 deploy a pilot production based on this technology.

According to scientists, this
 will reduce by almost a third the needs of rare earth metals in
 Russian market, reduce import dependence of many sectors of
 industry and create competition with China, which controls 97% of the market
 world.

The resumption

Taking advantage of the monopoly, the
 China often manipulates prices. Today, Russia is responsible for only
 about 100 tons – of 120 000 produced worldwide each year, although the
 USSR have been one of the world leaders in production. In the coming years, the new
 technology will increase that amount in tons.

“At the moment, in Russia, there
 effectively this type of production, but there is demand for these materials in many
 areas. For the country, it is economically advantageous to resume its own production of
 rare earth metals for which there is no increase in the price of the final product ”
 told the Gazeta Russa the vice-chancellor of
 area of ​​innovations UrFU, Sergei Kortov.

In a period of three years,
 Researchers must create an experimental section of metal production of
 rare earths, using the unique technology of leaching of uranium.

For this, the government will provide 300
 million rubles ($ 7.8 million) to the university. The project will be jointly funded
 by Moscow company “Energuítcheskie Proekti” (Russian, “Projects
 Energy “), which contribute more than 360 million rubles ($ 9.3
 million).

The uniqueness
 technology

The sulfuric acid solvent uranium and
 Rare earth is pumped underground. The resulting concentrate is extracted and
 transferred to a processing system from which are obtained
 desired components.

The real revolution that lies behind
 this technology is the use of an adsorbent which selectively extracts
 solutions of uranium, rare earth metals, and scandium, without affecting the
 uranium production.

The researchers were able UrFU
 synthesizing this adsorbent together with partners. There is no similar technology
 in the world.

“There is much that we occupy in the
 rare earth metals, always aware of the world situation. There was a time
 no one had an interest in developing this production. But we were
 producing technologies for the future. Now is our time, “said the Gazeta Russa team leader
 Scientific responsible for the new technology, Vladimir Ritchkov.

For him, the new technologies will help
 to improve the efficiency of processing of intermediate products ore
 uranium and ensure import substitution of rare earths and scandium
 in the defense industry, electronics, instrumentation, nuclear engineering,
 mechanical engineering, metallurgy and chemical industry.

 “The product range
 we offer for sale is huge. Are metals, oxides, polishes,
 pipes, magnets, luminescent materials, and many others, “says Ritchkov.

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