METHOD OF DISSOLVING REFRACTORY ALLOYS

Patent · Tue Apr 23 00:00:00 EST 1963

OSTI ID:4742971

Helton, D M; Savolainen, J K

This patent relates to the dissolution of alloys of uranium with zirconium, thorium, molybdenum, or niobium. The alloy is contacted with an anhydrous solution of mercuric chloride in a low-molecular-weight monohydric alcohol to produce a mercury-containing alcohol slurry. The slurry is then converted to an aqueous system by adding water and driving off the alcohol. The resulting aqueous slurry is electrolyzed in the presence of a mercury cathode to remove the mercury and produce a uranium-bearing aqueous solution. This process is useful for dissolving irradiated nuclear reactor fuels for radiochemical reprocessing by solvent extraction. In addition, zirconium-alloy cladding is selectively removed from uranium dioxide fuel compacts by this means. (AEC)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-018214
• Assignee: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
• Patent Number(s): US 3086926
• OSTI ID: 4742971
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CHEMISTRY
ALCOHOLS
CATHODES
ELECTROLYSIS
FUEL CANS
MERCURY
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SLURRIES
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
THORIUM ALLOYS
URANIUM ALLOYS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
WATER
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS