Journal article
Uranium endowments in phosphate rock.
- Ulrich AE Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), Natural and Social Science Interface, ETH Zurich Universitässtrasse 22, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Agricultural Sciences, Plant Nutrition, ETH Zurich, Eschikon 33, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland. Electronic address: andrea.ulrich@env.ethz.ch.
- Schnug E Department of Life Sciences, Technical University of Braunschweig, Pockelsstraße 14, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: e.schnug@tu-braunschweig.de.
- Prasser HM Institute of Energy Technology, Laboratory of Nuclear Energy Systems, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: prasser@lke.mavt.ethz.ch.
- Frossard E Institute for Agricultural Sciences, Plant Nutrition, ETH Zurich, Eschikon 33, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland. Electronic address: emmanuel.frossard@usys.ethz.ch.
- 2014-02-22
Published in:
- The Science of the total environment. - 2014
English
This study seeks to identify and specify the components that make up the prospects of U recovery from phosphate rock. A systems approach is taken. The assessment includes i) reviewing past recovery experience and lessons learned; ii) identifying factors that determine recovery; and iii) establishing a contemporary evaluation of U endowments in phosphate rock reserves, as well as the available and recoverable amounts from phosphate rock and phosphoric acid production. We find that in the past, recovery did not fulfill its potential and that the breakup of the Soviet Union worsened then-favorable recovery market conditions in the 1990s. We find that an estimated 5.7 million tU may be recoverable from phosphate rock reserves. In 2010, the recoverable tU from phosphate rock and phosphoric acid production may have been 15,000 tU and 11,000 tU, respectively. This could have filled the world U supply-demand gap for nuclear energy production. The results suggest that the U.S., Morocco, Tunisia, and Russia would be particularly well-suited to recover U, taking infrastructural considerations into account. We demonstrate future research needs, as well as sustainability orientations. We conclude that in order to promote investment and production, it seems necessary to establish long-term contracts at guaranteed prices, ensuring profitability for phosphoric acid producers.
- Language
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- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
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- DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.069
- PMID 24556272
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/184075
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