Patent ID: 7527772

Claim:
A method to remove uranium from a body of solid material, comprising: providing a body of solid material containing a concentration of uranium; depositing the body of solid material in an ultrasonic extractor; depositing an amount of acid in the ultrasonic extractor; heating the ultrasonic extractor with a jacket of the ultrasonic extractor; transporting the body of solid material to provide a change in height to the body of solid material in the ultrasonic extractor, and flowing the amount of acid in a downward direction opposite that of the body of solid material which is propelled in an upward direction in the ultrasonic extractor, such that the body of solid material and the acid contact each other inside the heated ultrasonic extractor while the ultrasonic extractor provides ultrasonic energy to both the body of solid material and the amount of acid, wherein the amount of acid strips uranium from the body of solid material; collecting the amount of acid and the body of solid material in the ultrasonic extractor in different positions in the ultrasonic extractor; transporting the amount of acid with the stripped uranium to an extraction mixer settler; and settling uranium product from the extraction mixer settler.