[4] This is separated from the solution, dried with methanol and then calcinated with hydrogen directly to UO2 to obtain a sinterable grade powder.

The ex-AUC uranium dioxide powder is free-flowing, relatively coarse (10 μ) and porous with specific surface area in the range of 5 m2/g and suitable for direct pelletisation, avoiding the granulation step.

[7] In the AUC route, calcination, reduction and stabilization are simultaneously carried out in a vertical fluidized bed reactor.

In most countries, sinterable grade UO2 powder for nuclear fuel is obtained by the ammonium diuranate (ADU) process, which requires several more steps.

[citation needed] Ammonium uranyl carbonate is also one of the many forms called yellowcake; in this case it is the product obtained by the heap leach process.