SEPARATION OF PLUTONIUM VALUES FROM URANIUM AND FISSION PRODUCT VALUES
Abstract
Separation of plutonium present in small amounts from neutron irradiated uranium by making use of the phenomenon of chemisorption is described. Plutonium in the tetravalent state is chemically absorbed on a fluoride in solid form. The steps for the separation comprise dissolving the irradiated uranium in nitric acid, oxidizing the plutonium in the resulting solution to the hexavalent state, adding to the solution a soluble calcium salt which by the common ion effect inhibits dissolution of the fluoride by the solution, passing the solution through a bed or column of subdivided calcium fluoride which has been sintered to about 8OO deg C to remove the chemisorbable fission products, reducing the plutonium in the solution thus obtained to the tetravalent state, and again passing the solution through a similar bed or column of calcium fluoride to selectively absorb the plutonium, which may then be recovered by treating the calcium fluoride with a solution of ammonium oxalate.
- Inventors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- OSTI Identifier:
- 4117757
- Patent Number(s):
- US 2952511
- Assignee:
- U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-007433
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- CHEMISTRY; ABSORPTION; ADSORPTION; AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS; CALCIUM COMPOUNDS; CALCIUM FLUORIDES; CHEMISORPTION; FISSION PRODUCTS; FLUORIDES; IONS; IRRADIATION; NEUTRONS; NITRIC ACID; OXALATES; OXIDATION; PLUTONIUM; RECOVERY; REDUCTION; SEPARATION PROCESSES; SINTERING; SOLIDS; SOLUTIONS; SOLVENT EXTRACTION; TEMPERATURE; URANIUM
Citation Formats
Maddock, A G, and Booth, A H. SEPARATION OF PLUTONIUM VALUES FROM URANIUM AND FISSION PRODUCT VALUES. United States: N. p., 1960.
Web.
Maddock, A G, & Booth, A H. SEPARATION OF PLUTONIUM VALUES FROM URANIUM AND FISSION PRODUCT VALUES. United States.
Maddock, A G, and Booth, A H. 1960.
"SEPARATION OF PLUTONIUM VALUES FROM URANIUM AND FISSION PRODUCT VALUES". United States.
@article{osti_4117757,
title = {SEPARATION OF PLUTONIUM VALUES FROM URANIUM AND FISSION PRODUCT VALUES},
author = {Maddock, A G and Booth, A H},
abstractNote = {Separation of plutonium present in small amounts from neutron irradiated uranium by making use of the phenomenon of chemisorption is described. Plutonium in the tetravalent state is chemically absorbed on a fluoride in solid form. The steps for the separation comprise dissolving the irradiated uranium in nitric acid, oxidizing the plutonium in the resulting solution to the hexavalent state, adding to the solution a soluble calcium salt which by the common ion effect inhibits dissolution of the fluoride by the solution, passing the solution through a bed or column of subdivided calcium fluoride which has been sintered to about 8OO deg C to remove the chemisorbable fission products, reducing the plutonium in the solution thus obtained to the tetravalent state, and again passing the solution through a similar bed or column of calcium fluoride to selectively absorb the plutonium, which may then be recovered by treating the calcium fluoride with a solution of ammonium oxalate.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4117757},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 1960},
month = {Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 1960}
}