US3721533A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of extracting uranium from seawater
Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jülich
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Filing: 1970-06-08
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Granted: 1973-03-20
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Expires: 1990-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A method of extracting uranium in the form of tri-carbonate complexes of UO2 from seawater or other liquids rich in metal ions wherein the seawater is acidified to a pH of approximately 5 (e.g. with hydrochloric acid or HNO3) and then is treated with ultramarine blue in an ion-exchange relationship until equilibrium is reached in the distribution of uranium between the ultramarine blue and the seawater. Elution of the uranium is carried out with an alkali carbonate solution.
Inventors
- 👤 H Riedel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:03
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J39/00; B01J39/02; C; C01; C01G; C01G43/00; C22; C22B; C22B60/00; C22B60/02; C22B60/0204; C22B60/0217; C22B60/0252; C22B60/0265; C22B60/0278
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the ultramarine blue is selected from the group which consists of lapis lazuli and synthetic ultramarine blue and is maintained in contact with the water in step (a) until equilibrium is reached in the distribution of the uranium between the water and the ultramarine blue, said water being seawater and being present in proportion to the ultramarine blue in step (a) in a volume ratio of about 100:1, said method further comprising acidifying the seawater prior to its treatment in step (a).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said ultramarine blue is agitated in said water in step (a) and said alkali carbonate solution is approximately of 1 molar concentration in step (b).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein said ultramarine blue is synthetic ultramarine blue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein said ultramarine blue is used in step (a) with a particle size below about 0.2 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein said seawater is acidified to a pH of about 5 by the addition of a mineral acid thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein said alkali carbonate is sodium carbonate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein said alkali carbonate is used to treat said ultramarine blue in step (b) in a volume ratio therewith of about 50:1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 8 wherein the ultramarine blue is agitated in said solution in step (b).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of pretreating the ultramarine blue prior to step (a) with a sodium chloride solution and drying the pretreated ultramarine blue.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |