[en] The AREVA Resources Canada Inc. McClean Lake uranium processing facility experienced serious operational challenges in handling crud formation. In order to assist in troubleshooting the performance of the Solvent Extraction circuit, the company purchased and installed an On Stream Analyzer (OSA). This presentation will share the benefits and challenges encountered with the commissioning of the OSA. It will also elaborate on unexpected benefits beyond solvent extraction. (author)

[en] In the solvent extraction of uranium the three most commonly encountered operational problems are (1) the transfer of impurities on the loaded organic, (2) poor phase separation and (3) crud formation. The chemistry and physics associated with these problems are discussed and suggestions are made as to how circuit design and operating procedures can alleviate these challenges. (author)

[en] 'Full text:' Demand for reliable, affordable energy will continue to grow as lesser developed countries aspire for standards of living closer to that of developed nations. Society now also realizes the environmental costs of various forms of energy and electricity production. Increasingly, nations are turning to nuclear power to contribute clean, reliable and affordable electricity. Cameco has aggressive growth plans to increase uranium supply to the nuclear industry in order to meet this growing demand. This presentation will provide an overview of Cameco's current and future uranium supply portfolio including existing operations, projects under development and projects under evaluation. (author)

[en] Under the oxidizing conditions of the McClean Lake Tailings Management Facility (TMF) hydrocarbons entrained on the surface of tailings material from mill processes are gradually converted to soluble bicarbonate ion. This has been observed to be a process occurring over approximately three years likely encouraged by the presence of a microbiological community within the tailings mass and in the water column. A recent tailings sampling campaign has provided evidence that bicarbonate ion is participating in the conversion of gypsum to calcite. In older tailings, equilibrium with calcite appears to be controlling the terminal bicarbonate ion concentration.(author)

[en] The McClean Lake operation has experienced several problems relating to the thickened tailings disposal system. These include issues relating to segregation, inadequate pumping capacity, and unstable pipeline operation. Segregation in the tailings management facility is of particular importance since it negatively impacts the long-term containment of arsenic and the consolidation of the tails solids. These issues have direct implications on the regulatory requirements of the operation. As a result several initiatives relating to tailings thickening, transport, and deposition were proposed and implemented. This paper presents an audit of the existing tailings transport system based on the rheological requirements of homogeneous tailings as well as the proposed changes and preliminary results of this study. (author)

[en] 'Full text:' The global nuclear power forecast, the North American outlook and the effect of nuclear power growth on greenhouse gas emissions in North America will be discussed. The construction of Generation III reactors will replace aging power plants and, further, add capacity that is environmentally sustainable. The outlook for Generation IV reactors also may significantly improve the environmental balance after 2030, both in electrical markets, waste reduction, and in non-traditional markets such as process heat. (author)

[en] The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is an independent, international organization that advances for the public benefit the science of radiological protection, in particular by providing recommendations and guidance on all aspects of protection against ionizing radiation. This presentation touches on aspects of The 2007 Recommendations of the ICRP, a fundamental document that lays out the system of radiological protection for all exposure situations and types, and focuses on other recent publications relevant to the uranium industry. Of particular relevance are the 2009 ICRP Statement on Radon and the accompanying report on lung cancer risk from radon. (author)

[en] Selenium is a contaminant encountered at uranium mines. When discharged into water, it can build up in the food chain and become toxic to egg-laying fish and shorebirds. This presentation reviews recent developments in its regulation, management and treatment. Selenium will soon be regulated on the basis of its concentration in fish or bird eggs, not its dissolved concentrations, which challenges managers trying to establish acceptable discharge limits. Information supporting this change will be discussed. Recent developments to manage and treat selenium will also be reviewed, emphasizing new chemical and biological treatment processes applicable at uranium mines and mill sites. (author)

[en] Bench-scale experiments are carried out to evaluate electrokinetic (EK) dewatering of two tailings samples from uranium mines in Northern Saskatchewan. The study includes characterization of tailings, measurement of electrokinetic permeability (k_e), and electrokinetic enhanced gravity dewatering. It is found that tailings containing clay minerals respond well to EK dewatering. Significant EK flow is generated, which can be further enhanced by pH adjustment at anodes. The key parameters, such as density, electrical conductivity, pH, and mineral composition of tailings play dominant roles in the effectiveness of EK dewatering, which should be considered in the design for field applications. (author)

[en] Midwest is a unique uranium deposit with exceptionally high arsenic content. The ore body is located 17 km west of the McClean Lake operation. The McClean Lake mill will be modified to process Midwest ore and handle solid wastes from the Midwest water treatment plant. This paper describes the modifications required of the McClean Lake mill, process challenges associated with treatment of the arsenic, and the possibility of recovering nickel and cobalt as a by-product. It also reviews the complexity in the design of the Midwest water treatment facility which incorporates reverse osmosis technology with conventional physical-chemical water treatment. (author)