A moving boundary model under considering the volume change of spherical resin beads during ion exchange processes was employed to recognize the mechanisms of recovering uranium from carbonate solutions using strongly basic anion exchanger Two important factors, swelling and ion exchange, which directly affect the volume of ion exchangers were taken into account. An ion exchange mechanism has been found for the forward reaction RCl/[UO2 CO3)3]4- at pH 8.5～10.0, where the rate is controlled by liquid-film diffusion at low concentration of the tetravalent uranyl complex anion [UO2 (CO3)3]4-, and is partical diffusion governing at high concentration of the complex anion. The mechanism of RCl/U(Ⅳ) at pH 5. 5～7. 5 is a chemical reaction taking place at the moving boundary of the unreacted nucleus. For the reverse reaction RnU/NaCl, the uranyl tricarbonate complex anion in the resin phase is replaced by Cl- ions with an ion exchange mechanism always determined by particle diffusion. The other forms of uranium in the solid phase loaded on the resin at pH 5. 5～7. 5 should belong to non-exchangeable uranium. The mechanism of the reverse reaction RnU/HCl is always chemical reaction which is not restricted to the moving boundary of the unreacted core.
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