Spent nuclear fuel recycling with plasma reduction and etching
A method of extracting uranium from spent nuclear fuel (SNF) particles is disclosed. Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) (containing oxides of uranium, oxides of fission products (FP) and oxides of transuranic (TRU) elements (including plutonium)) are subjected to a hydrogen plasma and a fluorine plasma. The hydrogen plasma reduces the uranium and plutonium oxides from their oxide state. The fluorine plasma etches the SNF metals to form UF6 and PuF4. During subjection of the SNF particles to the fluorine plasma, the temperature is maintained in the range of 1200-2000 deg K to: a) allow any PuF6 (gas) that is formed to decompose back to PuF4 (solid), and b) to maintain stability of the UF6. Uranium (in the form of gaseous UF6) is easily extracted and separated from the plutonium (in the form of solid PuF4). The use of plasmas instead of high temperature reactors or flames mitigates the high temperature corrosive atmosphere and the production of PuF6 (as a final product). Use of plasmas provide faster reaction rates, greater control over the individual electron and ion temperatures, and allow the use of CF4 or NF3 as the fluorine sources instead of F2 or HF.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- Assignee:
- The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- 8,192,704
- Application Number:
- 13/035,087
- OSTI ID:
- 1176447
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2011 Feb 25
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Decontamination Process Using CF 4 -O 2 Microwave Discharge Plasma at Atmospheric Pressure
|
journal | September 2000 |
Etching of uranium oxide with a non-thermal, atmospheric pressure plasma
|
journal | January 2004 |
Etching of UO2 in NF3 RF plasma glow discharge
|
journal | February 2000 |
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