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Title: Electrochemical process for zirconium alloy recycling

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6726112

This patent describes a method of separating nickel from zirconium for recycling nickel-containing zirconium alloy. It comprises: placing the nickel-containing zirconium in a molten alt bath at 500{degrees} to about 722{degrees} C. with the molten salt in the molten salt bath consisting essentially of a mixture of 0 to about 46.5 mole % lithium fluoride, about 11.5 to about 40 mole % sodium fluoride and potassium fluoride to produce a molten salt bath containing dissolved zirconium and dissolved nickel; electrochemically plating the nickel from the molten salt bath at a voltage sufficient to plate nickel but less than the voltage to plate zirconium to provide an essentially nickel-free molten salt bath; and electrochemically plating the zirconium from the essentially nickel-free molten salt bath to provide an essentially nickel-free zirconium.

Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
Patent Number(s):
US 4923579; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-242573A; TRN: 90-025582
OSTI ID:
6726112
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 12 Sep 1988
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English