RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Mining uranium might be made obsolete by sea water sourceI noticed the sample of uranium recovered from seawater that was in the testube in the picture was yellow, like yellowcake. I am no expert but it is my understanding that yelowcake produced in modern mills is usually brown or black, not yellow. Did they colour it after they extracted it from the seawater? What colour should it be or did they apply artistic license to the article? You would think that the filteration process described would give a pure uranium product, what colour is pure uranium.
Also wondering what the isotope ratio was on the seawater extracted 5 gm?
Any milling experts out there that can provide a few answers?
from the US Nuclear Regulatory site at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/yellowcake.html
Yellowcake
The solid form of mixed uranium oxide, which is produced from uranium ore in the uranium recovery (milling) process. The material is a mixture of uranium oxides, which can vary in proportion and color from yellow to orange to dark green (blackish) depending on the temperature at which the material is dried (which affects the level of hydration and impurities), with higher drying temperatures producing a darker and less soluble material. Yellowcake was commonly referred to as U3O8, because that chemical compound historically comprised the majority of the yellowcake produced by uranium recovery facilities utilizing conventional milling methods. Most modern uranium recovery facilities utilize in situ recovery methods and produce a yellowish compound comprised mostly of uranyl peroxide dihydrate. This material is then transported to a uranium conversion facility, where it is transformed into uranium hexafluoride (UF6), in preparation for fabricating fuel for nuclear reactors.
Just wondering, cuz I think there is something bogus going on - B2S2