National Standard Compiled by CNNC Mining and Metallurgy Technology Successfully Released

Recently, the national standard "Methods of Analysis of Uranium Ore Concentrate - Part 1: Determination of Uranium - Ferrous Sulfate Reduction - Potassium Dichromate Titration Method" (GB/T 11848.1-2026), compiled by CNNC Mining and Metallurgy Technology Group Co., Ltd. (Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy, CNNC), was officially released. With this, all 15 national standard methods for "Methods of Analysis of Uranium Ore Concentrate" (GB/T 11848.2-11848.16, implemented in May 2026) led by our company have been fully released.

Uranium ore concentrate is an important intermediate product in the nuclear fuel cycle, with its core value lying in the uranium it contains. The determination of uranium content is a crucial link throughout the entire industrial chain from ore to nuclear fuel. This is not merely a simple compositional analysis, but a core step in ensuring economic benefits, product compliance, process safety, and conformity with international regulations. The control of impurity elements plays an important role in the uranium purification and conversion process. The determination of impurity elements is primarily aimed at meeting product control and quality assurance requirements, ensuring downstream process safety, and supporting nuclear safeguards and forensic traceability. The new series of analytical methods is better adapted to modern production processes and detection techniques.

The revision of this series of analytical methods took more than two years. In the early stages, after review and certification and committee voting, the Standardization Administration of China issued the plans in December 2023 and February 2025 respectively. With a scientific and rigorous approach and a meticulous attitude, the team carried out experimental verification, inter-laboratory comparison, solicitation of comments, technical review, and review by the Standardization Administration, ultimately forming a standard system that is advanced, applicable, and internationally harmonized.

The successful release of the 15 national standards marks an important advancement in the standardization of nuclear fuel cycle testing technology in China, providing solid technical support for ensuring the safety and quality control of nuclear fuel production.