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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PROCESS FOR MAKING URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4033821
A process for the manufacture of uranium(VI) fluoride from ore concentrates wherein the valence state of the uranium is from four to six is described. The process consists of comminuting and classlfying the ore concentrate to a particle size satisfactory for fluidizing. The ore concentrate is converted to UF/sub 6/ by contacting with an F/sub 2/containing gas in at least two stages; the fluorination ln the first stage is controlled ln order that a nonvolatile uranium composition is produced substantially free of UF/sub 6/. The contact temperature in the first stage for reacting the uranium ore concentrate with fluorine is below 300 deg C. The contact temperature-time conditions in the last stage are effective to substantially complete the conversion of the uranium compounds contained in the ore concentrate to UF/sub 6/. The contacting in each stage is carried out by passing the F/sub 2/containing gas upward through the ore concentrate with a gas velocity sufficient to fluidize body. The UF/sub 6/ is condensed from the off-gas streams of the fluorination stages and is purified by distillation. (N.W.R.)
Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-15-023561
OSTI ID:
4033821
Report Number(s):
GB 871061
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English