Method for fluorination of uranium oxide

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:866407

Petit, George S ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN

Highly pure uranium hexafluoride is made from uranium oxide and fluorine. The uranium oxide, which includes UO.sub.3, UO.sub.2, U.sub.3 O.sub.8 and mixtures thereof, is introduced together with a small amount of a fluorine-reactive substance, selected from alkali chlorides, silicon dioxide, silicic acid, ferric oxide, and bromine, into a constant volume reaction zone. Sufficient fluorine is charged into the zone at a temperature below approximately 0.degree. C. to provide an initial pressure of at least approximately 600 lbs/sq. in. at the ambient atmospheric temperature. The temperature is then allowed to rise in the reaction zone until reaction occurs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4704261
• OSTI ID: 866407
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
fluorination
uranium
oxide
highly
pure
hexafluoride
fluorine
uo
mixtures
introduced
amount
fluorine-reactive
substance
selected
alkali
chlorides
silicon
dioxide
silicic
acid
ferric
bromine
constant
volume
reaction
zone
sufficient
charged
temperature
below
approximately
degree
provide
initial
pressure
600
lbs
sq
ambient
atmospheric
allowed
rise
occurs
pure uranium
uranium oxide
temperature below
reaction zone
silicon dioxide
reaction occurs
uranium hexafluoride
highly pure
atmospheric temperature
ferric oxide
silicic acid
reaction occur
active substance
/423/