IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE

Patent · Tue Apr 25 23:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4017432

Gustison, R A; Hurd, F W

A process is described for producing high-purity UF/sub 6/ by extracting U from a 0.1 to 3.0 pH solution of ore concentrate and a complex-forming solution. The uranium com plex material is substantially insoluble in the aqueous acid solution. The complex in an organic diluent, which is inert to and immiscible with the aqueous acid solution, causes the U to concentrate with the complex. Hence a separation with concentrated HCl is accomplished by evaporating and then treating the remaining solution with ammonia to precipitate ammonium diuranate. The diuranate is dnied and reduced to UO/sub 2/ with hydrogen gas. The dioxide is cooled in a nonoxidizing atmosphere and hydrofluorinated to UF/sub 4/. The dried tetrafluoride is heated to remove water and is then reacted with fluorine gas to produce UF/sub 6/ which is distilled from the reaction mixture. (N.W.R.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-15-018119
• OSTI ID: 4017432
• Report Number(s): GB 866739
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACIDS
AMMONIA
CHEMISTRY
COMPLEXES
DISTILLATION
EVAPORATION
FLUORINATION
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROGEN
ORE PROCESSING
PRECIPITATION
PREPARATION
REDUCTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
URANATES
URANIUM CONCENTRATES
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
URANIUM ORES
URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
WATER