LARGE SCALE METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION AND PURIFICATION OF CURIUM

Patent · Tue May 19 00:00:00 EDT 1959

OSTI ID:4232573

Higgins, G H; Crane, W W.T.

A large-scale process for production and purification of Cm/sup 242/ is described. Aluminum slugs containing Am are irradiated and declad in a NaOH-- NaHO/sub 3/ solution at 85 to 100 deg C. The resulting slurry filtered and washed with NaOH, NH/sub 4/OH, and H/sub 2/O. Recovery of Cm from filtrate and washings is effected by an Fe(OH)/sub 3/ precipitation. The precipitates are then combined and dissolved ln HCl and refractory oxides centrifuged out. These oxides are then fused with Na/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ and dissolved in HCl. The solution is evaporated and LiCl solution added. The Cm, rare earths, and anionic impurities are adsorbed on a strong-base anfon exchange resin. Impurities are eluted with LiCl--HCl solution, rare earths and Cm are eluted by HCl. Other ion exchange steps further purify the Cm. The Cm is then precipitated as fluoride and used in this form or further purified and processed. (T.R.H.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-13-022143
• Assignee: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
• Patent Number(s): US 2887358
• OSTI ID: 4232573
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CHEMISTRY
ADSORPTION
ALUMINUM
AMERICIUM 241
AMMONIA
ANIONS
CARRIERS
CENTRIFUGATION
CURIUM 242
CURIUM FLUORIDES
EVAPORATION
FABRICATION
FILTERS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
IMPURITIES
ION EXCHANGE
IRON HYDROXIDES
LITHIUM CHLORIDES
MELTING
MIXING
OXIDES
PATENT
PRECIPITATION
RARE EARTHS
RECOVERY
REFINING
REPROCESSING
RODS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SLURRIES
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
SODIUM NITRATES
SOLUBILITY
SOLUTIONS
TEMPERATURE
WATER