Revolutionary Breakthrough: China Extracts Nuclear Uranium from Water, Leaving the World in Awe

International News:  China has taken a major step in its nuclear energy ambitions by developing an innovative technology to extract uranium directly from seawater. This breakthrough, led by Dr. Shuangyin Wang's team at Hunan University, is not only efficient but also significantly cheaper than existing methods. The technology could pave the way for China’s self-reliance in nuclear fuel supplies, giving its nuclear program a strong strategic edge.

Oceans Hold Vast Uranium Reserves, but Extraction Remains a Challenge

Seawater contains an estimated 4.5 billion tonnes of uranium—nearly a thousand times more than what can be obtained through conventional mining. However, the uranium in seawater exists in an extremely diluted form, making its extraction technologically and economically challenging. Traditional methods, such as using uranium-absorbing polymers or electrochemical separation, have proven expensive and inefficient.

A Simpler, Faster and Cheaper Process

The Chinese research team has introduced a new electrochemical method that uses two copper electrodes—positive and negative—to simultaneously attract uranium ions from seawater. In lab tests, the system managed to extract 100% of the uranium content from a sample of saltwater within just 40 minutes. By contrast, earlier sponge-based methods could only achieve about 10% extraction efficiency.

Slashing Costs and Energy Consumption

One of the most compelling features of this technology is its low cost. It reportedly requires just $83 to extract one kilogram of uranium, compared to $205 using older physical techniques and $360 using previous electrochemical methods. Moreover, energy consumption for the new process is a thousand times lower, making it not only economically viable but also environmentally sustainable.

Laying the Groundwork for Industrial Scaling

So far, this method has been tested in laboratory and small-scale environments. In one such experiment involving 100 liters of seawater, about 90% of the uranium was successfully extracted. Chinese authorities and research institutions have already begun preparing for industrial scaling. In 2019, a state-owned nuclear company created the Seawater Uranium Extraction Technology Innovation Alliance to build a demonstration plant by 2035, with mass production expected by 2050.

Towards Nuclear Fuel Independence

Currently, China relies heavily on imports to meet its uranium needs. But this technology could radically change that dependence. If implemented on a larger scale, it could enable China to secure a domestic supply of uranium for its growing number of nuclear reactors. According to the International Energy Agency, China is on track to surpass the US and Europe in nuclear capacity by 2030, and this breakthrough could accelerate that timeline.

With this innovation, China is not just making scientific strides—it’s also moving closer to becoming a nuclear superpower, with oceans possibly becoming its next big resource frontier.