URANIUM RECOVERY FROM METALLIC MASSES

Patent · Tue Jun 27 04:00:00 EDT 1961

OSTI ID:4000438

Chiotti, P

A process is described for separating U>s2/sup >> /om neutronirradiated thorium-base metal containing protactinium, zirconium, and rare earth fission products. The thorium metal is reacted with magnesium at from 800 to 900 deg C whereby a liquid alloy (Mg--Th--fission products) and a solid uranium-- protactinium metal form. Molten ZrCl/sub 2/-KCl--NaCl (or LiCl) is then added to the U--Pa metal at from 450 to 700 deg C, and a metal phase (nonrare-earth fission products and zinc) is separated from a salt phase (ThCl/sub 4/, U chloride, Pa chloride, ZrCl/sub 4/, fission product chlorides). Mg--Zn alloy is then added stepwise to the salt phase for fractional precipitation and separation of the various components, namely (a) a stoichiometric amount for the conversion of Th and Zr to salt-insoluble Th/sub 2/Zn/sub 17/ and ZrZn/sub 14/; (b) an about stoichiometric amount for the conversion of the U to U/sub 2/Zn/sub 17/; and (c) a large excess for the precipitation of Pa as a zinc compound.

• Research Organization: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
• NSA Number: NSA-15-019482
• Assignee: DTIE; NSA-15-019482
• Patent Number(s): US 2990273
• OSTI ID: 4000438
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALLOYS
CHEMISTRY
FISSION PRODUCTS
IRRADIATION
LIQUIDS
LITHIUM CHLORIDES
MAGNESIUM
MAGNESIUM ALLOYS
MASS
METALS
NEUTRONS
POTASSIUM CHLORIDES
PRECIPITATION
PROTACTINIUM
PROTACTINIUM CHLORIDES
RARE EARTHS
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM CHLORIDES
TEMPERATURE
THORIUM
THORIUM CHLORIDES
URANIUM
URANIUM 233
URANIUM CHLORIDES
ZINC
ZINC ALLOYS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM
ZIRCONIUM CHLORIDES