Use garbage to collect uranium from garbage

With the use of bacteria and inositol phosphate, which have the same chemical characteristics as plant waste, researchers at Birmingham University have already collected uranium from wastewater at uranium mines . This technology is also used to clean nuclear waste. Recently, Professor Lynne Macaskie presented the results of the study before the meeting of the Microbiology Association held at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

Bacteria, particularly in this case, are E. coli, capable of dividing the source of inositol phosphate (also known as phytic acid), a form of phosphorus storage in the grain, to release phosphate molecules. Phosphate will then combine with uranium, forming a uranium phosphate precipitate on the bacterial cell. It is possible to extract this precipitate and then collect it into uranium.

This approach was first mentioned in 1995, but at the time people used a much more expensive additive, plus low uranium costs, making the process seem to be economically inefficient. Discovering that inositol phosphate, an inexpensive, six times more efficient waste than previous additives, made the process feasible, especially in the context of rising uranium prices worldwide. countries expand nuclear technology in an effort to produce low-carbon energy.

Inositol phosphate. (Photo: TopNews) For example, if pure inositol phosphate is purchased from commercial suppliers, the cost of the entire uranium collection process is £ 1.72 per gram of uranium. If there is a cheaper source of inositol phosphate (eg calcium phytate), the cost will be reduced to £ 0.09 per gram of uranium. The price of uranium in the international market is £ 0.211 / g in 2007, and £ 0.09 / g at the present time. These figures generally guarantee economic feasibility, because besides the uranium obtained, this work has environmental benefits. The use of secondary inositol phosphate from agricultural waste will even lead to further lower costs and cost effectiveness, especially when uranium prices are forecast to continue to increase in the future.

Macaskie said: 'The UK has no natural reserves of uranium, only a significant amount of uranium is produced during nuclear production. Currently the world has not fallen into uranium deficiency, but in terms of energy security, the EU needs to prepare itself for the ability to filter as much uranium from regions as possible after uranium mining (where the environment is affected). heavy pollution) as well as recycling uranium from nuclear waste. With the use of cheap raw materials from vegetable waste, we have proven that this uranium collection process is completely feasible, economically viable and the spirit of sustainable development. '