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Title: Fluorination process using catalyst

Patent ·
OSTI ID:865477

A process for converting an actinide compound selected from the group consisting of uranium oxides, plutonium oxides, uranium tetrafluorides, plutonium tetrafluorides and mixtures of said oxides and tetrafluorides, to the corresponding volatile actinide hexafluoride by fluorination with a stoichiometric excess of fluorine gas. The improvement involves conducting the fluorination of the plutonium compounds in the presence of a fluoride catalyst selected from the group consisting of CoF.sub.3, AgF.sub.2 and NiF.sub.2, whereby the fluorination is significantly enhanced. The improvement also involves conducting the fluorination of one of the uranium compounds in the presence of a fluoride catalyst selected from the group consisting of CoF.sub.3 and AgF.sub.2, whereby the fluorination is significantly enhanced.

Research Organization:
E I DUPONT DE NEMOURS & CO INC
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-76SR00001
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
Patent Number(s):
US 4522794
OSTI ID:
865477
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English