Course Description
Once uranium is in solution, it must be recovered, concentrated, purified and precipitated into yellowcake (U₃O₈) — the saleable product that enters the nuclear fuel cycle. This is a hydrometallurgical process demanding precise control of chemistry, and it is the value-creating step of every ISR uranium operation.
This course develops a comprehensive understanding of uranium processing from pregnant solution to drummed yellowcake. Participants learn ion exchange and solvent extraction, elution and stripping, precipitation, thickening, filtration, drying and calcination, along with product specifications, impurity control, and the quality requirements of the uranium market.
What you will achieve
By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the uranium processing flowsheet from solution to product
- Apply ion exchange (IX) to uranium recovery
- Apply solvent extraction (SX) and understand its role
- Understand elution, stripping and resin/solvent management
- Control uranium precipitation
- Apply thickening, filtration and dewatering
- Understand drying, calcination and packaging of yellowcake
- Manage product specification, impurities and quality
How the course is delivered
The course combines uranium hydrometallurgy with practical flowsheet and process control exercises. Participants work through IX/SX, precipitation and product quality scenarios using realistic operating examples.
The programme focuses on the processing routes used in ISR uranium production, where solution chemistry and impurity control determine product value.
Designed for
This training course is ideal for:
- Process engineers and metallurgists in uranium plants
- Plant operators and supervisors
- Chemists and laboratory staff
- Technical professionals in the uranium value chain
- Anyone in uranium processing
Daily programme
- The uranium processing flowsheet
- Pregnant solution characteristics
- Uranium solution chemistry
- Sampling and assaying
- Ion exchange (IX) fundamentals
- Resin selection and management
- Solvent extraction (SX) fundamentals
- Elution and stripping
- Uranium precipitation chemistry
- Precipitation control
- Thickening and filtration
- Solid-liquid separation
- Drying and calcination
- Yellowcake packaging and handling
- Product specification and impurities
- Metallurgical accounting and workshop
Certification & accreditation
BII Certificate of Completion
BII Certificate of Completion Upon successful completion, participants receive a BII Development Institute Certificate of Completion with a unique reference code that is independently verifiable. Our certificates are recognised internationally and reflect successful completion of your chosen programme.
