- China has successfully extracted kilogram-level uranium from seawater under real ocean conditions
- The oceans contain far more uranium than all known land-based deposits combined
- The concentration of seawater uranium is extremely low, which makes recovery technically demanding
Chinese scientists have revealed the successful extraction of kilogram-scale uranium from seawater under real ocean conditions, a milestone that moves the concept beyond laboratory testing.
The announcement came through state-linked nuclear institutions and was linked to the operation of a dedicated offshore test platform in the South China Sea.
Seawater contains uranium in extremely low concentrations, approx. 0.003 ppm, which makes recovery technically demanding and energy-intensive.
Seawater uranium attracts long-term interest
Despite this low concentration, the sheer volume of the oceans means that the total uranium content is enormous, far in excess of known land-based reserves.
The claim to extract 1000g therefore signals a controlled demonstration rather than a commercial breakthrough.
Conventional uranium mining relies on limited terrestrial deposits, many of which face constraints related to cost, geopolitics and environmental pressures.
International nuclear agency estimates put economically recoverable land-based uranium at several million tons, enough for centuries at current reactor consumption.
In contrast, seawater is thought to hold around 4.5 billion tonnes of uranium, which is continuously replenished by geological processes.
This has driven years of research into adsorption materials and marine extraction systems, while China’s latest tests add data but do not address the fundamental cost challenge.
The reported recovery relied on a large marine test platform designed to validate materials under real ocean conditions, including currents, biofouling and corrosion.
Officials described advances in adsorption materials and scale-up experiments, suggesting incremental improvements rather than disruptive leaps.
Extraction of uranium from seawater requires repeated application, recycling and chemical treatment of absorbent materials, and each step incurs energy and maintenance costs.
No public figures were given on extraction efficiency, energy yield or expected costs per unit. kilograms, which remains central to the assessment of feasibility.
Without these measurements, the kilogram serves mainly as proof of controlled operation.
China’s stated ambition to achieve what it describes as “unlimited battery life” by 2050 is tied to the long-term availability of nuclear fuel rather than short-term technological change.
Nuclear power relies on uranium as a primary energy source, and the amount of uranium available directly affects how long reactors can operate without supply constraints.
If uranium could be extracted from seawater on an industrial scale, the supply of nuclear fuel would shift from limited terrestrial deposits to a continuous replenishment of natural resources.
However, international assessments suggest that advanced reactors, recycling and enrichment systems could expand uranium availability even without seawater mining.
Against this background, the seawater effort represents an additional option, the practical possibilities of which remain unclear.
While the oceans offer a huge theoretical resource, turning it into reliable, economical fuel would require breakthroughs yet to be publicly demonstrated.
The kilogram extracted marks progress, although its significance depends entirely on whether future data supports claims of large-scale sustainable operation.
Via IT Home (originally in Chinese)
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