TiO2 as a cost effective uranium getter for uranium contaminated sites

核能是为数不多的有希望的、更清洁的化石燃料替代品之一，由于能源需求的增加和对化石燃料对气候变化影响的日益关注，预计核能将迅速增长。作为世界上最大的铀生产国和出口国，加拿大将在这一发展中发挥重要作用。虽然技术发展降低了建筑成本，提高了核电站的安全性，但人们越来越关注与铀矿尾矿和处置概念（例如地质储存库）有关的环境和人类健康影响。基于天然含铀体系中铀与锐钛矿的强关联，本文提出将氧化钛（TiO2）作为一种新型的、具有成本效益的铀吸收剂，用于铀矿尾矿场地、受污染的含水层和高放核废料容器。通过现场、室内实验和量子化学计算，探讨TiO2脱除铀的机理和最佳条件。这项技术随后将在铀污染场地进行验证。这是一项及时的研究，将对加拿大的铀经济、环境保护和提高公众对整个铀燃料循环的信心作出重大贡献。

Nuclear energy provides one of few promising, cleaner alternatives to fossil fuel, and is expected to grow rapidly due to the increasing demand of energy and the growing concern over the impact of fossil fuel on climate change. As the largest producer and exporter of uranium in the world, Canada will play a major role in the development. Although technological developments have reduced construction costs and improved nuclear power plant safety, there is increasing concern over the environmental and human health impact related to uranium mine tailings and disposal concepts (e.g., geological repositories). Based on the strong association of uranium with anatase in natural uraniferous systems, here we propose to use titanium oxide (TiO2) as a novel, cost-effective uranium getter for uranium mine tailing sites, contaminated aquifers, and high-level nuclear waste containers. By conducting field and laboratory experiments and quantum chemistry calculations, we will investigate the mechanisms and optimal conditions for the uranium removal by TiO2. The technique will then be validated at uranium-contaminated sites. This is a timely research that will contribute significantly to the uranium economy in Canada, to the protection of the environment, and to the improvement of public confidence in the entire uranium fuel cycle.