Iran claims nuclear breakthrough
Daily Times - Site Edition: "Iran claims nuclear breakthrough
TEHRAN: Iran announced on Monday it has made another breakthrough in its controversial nuclear programme by successfully using biotechnology to extract purer uranium from its mines.
A report on state television said Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, after six years of research, had mastered the technique of employing microbes to purify uranium ore in mines prior to mining.
It said “using biotechnology substantially decreases the cost, increases optimisation and prevents environmental contamination” in the process that leads to the production of yellowcake, or concentrated uranium oxide.
The report, quoting a senior researcher, said the microbes were “successfully used in experimental stages” in central Iran’s uranium mines. “This bacteria is very valuable” and makes the production of yellowcake “100 to 200 times cheaper”, he said.
Yellowcake is a part of the early stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. The United States accuses Iran of using atomic energy as a cover for nuclear weapons development. Iran insists it has the right to a peaceful nuclear programme as a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The latest development, touted by state television as a “breakthrough”, is likely to reinforce the impression among Iran’s critics that even though Tehran has been forced to suspend certain fuel cycle activities it has continued to make great strides on others.
To make yellowcake, uranium ore must first be mined, then milled and processed in acid. But mined ore is often of a very low concentration and extraction involves expensive and hazardous processes such as roasting and smelting.
Using biotechnology - or a technique known as “bioleaching” - a bacteria introduced to the ore eats iron sulphur and produces sulphuric acid which in turn dissolves the ore and separates the uranium. This then makes yellowcake production easier. afp"
TEHRAN: Iran announced on Monday it has made another breakthrough in its controversial nuclear programme by successfully using biotechnology to extract purer uranium from its mines.
A report on state television said Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, after six years of research, had mastered the technique of employing microbes to purify uranium ore in mines prior to mining.
It said “using biotechnology substantially decreases the cost, increases optimisation and prevents environmental contamination” in the process that leads to the production of yellowcake, or concentrated uranium oxide.
The report, quoting a senior researcher, said the microbes were “successfully used in experimental stages” in central Iran’s uranium mines. “This bacteria is very valuable” and makes the production of yellowcake “100 to 200 times cheaper”, he said.
Yellowcake is a part of the early stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. The United States accuses Iran of using atomic energy as a cover for nuclear weapons development. Iran insists it has the right to a peaceful nuclear programme as a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The latest development, touted by state television as a “breakthrough”, is likely to reinforce the impression among Iran’s critics that even though Tehran has been forced to suspend certain fuel cycle activities it has continued to make great strides on others.
To make yellowcake, uranium ore must first be mined, then milled and processed in acid. But mined ore is often of a very low concentration and extraction involves expensive and hazardous processes such as roasting and smelting.
Using biotechnology - or a technique known as “bioleaching” - a bacteria introduced to the ore eats iron sulphur and produces sulphuric acid which in turn dissolves the ore and separates the uranium. This then makes yellowcake production easier. afp"
posted by Greta Jane at Tuesday, August 30, 2005
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