Acidic dissolution behavior of U containing ZrO2-MgO ceramics

► Nitric acid dissolved 50 wt.% of U at 3.0 μmol L−1 m−2 from cubic zirconia. ► The dissolution mechanism involves an initial leaching. ► Sulfuric acid solubilized 12 wt.% of total uranium. ► Dissolution of zirconia by H2SO4 leads to formation of colloids.