Abstract

This work presents a novel electro-electrodialysis (EED) system for laboratory-scale uranium electrowinning based on a simple process of reactive electmdialysis of solutions of uranium (VI) oxide (UO3) dissolved in aqueous hydrofluoric acid (HF), leading to the formation of deposits of uranium tetrafluoride (UF4). For stainless steel cathodes, the best operating conditions for a concentration of 25 g/L for uranium were i = 40 A/m(2), T = 40 degrees C and 18 L/h electrolyte recirculation flowrate. The specific energy consumption (W) and current efficiency (p) for tetra uranium fluoride electrowinning was 4500 kWh/kg and 10.15%. When the cathodic metal was changed from stainless steel to aluminium, seeking to optimize the system, improved values of W and rho were achieved (645 kWh/kg and 68%, respectively).