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Title: Method for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal

Abstract

A process is described for converting scrap and waste uranium oxide to uranium metal. The uranium oxide is sequentially reduced with a suitable reducing agent to a mixture of uranium metal and oxide products. The uranium metal is then converted to uranium hydride and the uranium hydride-containing mixture is then cooled to a temperature less than -100.degree. C. in an inert liquid which renders the uranium hydride ferromagnetic. The uranium hydride is then magnetically separated from the cooled mixture. The separated uranium hydride is readily converted to uranium metal by heating in an inert atmosphere. This process is environmentally acceptable and eliminates the use of hydrogen fluoride as well as the explosive conditions encountered in the previously employed bomb-reduction processes utilized for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Norris, TN
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
866463
Patent Number(s):
4717420
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; converting; uranium; oxides; metal; process; described; scrap; waste; oxide; sequentially; reduced; suitable; reducing; agent; mixture; products; converted; hydride; hydride-containing; cooled; temperature; -100; degree; inert; liquid; renders; ferromagnetic; magnetically; separated; readily; heating; atmosphere; environmentally; acceptable; eliminates; hydrogen; fluoride; explosive; conditions; encountered; previously; employed; bomb-reduction; processes; utilized; inert liquid; uranium oxide; inert atmosphere; reducing agent; uranium metal; reduction process; readily converted; uranium oxides; environmentally acceptable; converting uranium; hydrogen fluoride; sequentially reduce; oxide product; /75/

Citation Formats

Duerksen, Walter K. Method for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal. United States: N. p., 1988. Web.
Duerksen, Walter K. Method for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal. United States.
Duerksen, Walter K. Fri . "Method for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866463.
@article{osti_866463,
title = {Method for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal},
author = {Duerksen, Walter K},
abstractNote = {A process is described for converting scrap and waste uranium oxide to uranium metal. The uranium oxide is sequentially reduced with a suitable reducing agent to a mixture of uranium metal and oxide products. The uranium metal is then converted to uranium hydride and the uranium hydride-containing mixture is then cooled to a temperature less than -100.degree. C. in an inert liquid which renders the uranium hydride ferromagnetic. The uranium hydride is then magnetically separated from the cooled mixture. The separated uranium hydride is readily converted to uranium metal by heating in an inert atmosphere. This process is environmentally acceptable and eliminates the use of hydrogen fluoride as well as the explosive conditions encountered in the previously employed bomb-reduction processes utilized for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988}
}