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

REPROCESSING OF THORIUM-URANIUM FUELS BY LIQUID METAL EXTRACTION

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4114822

Liquid-metal extraction techniques were applied to low decontamination reprocessing of two systems. In the first, the liquid system thorium-uranium- aluminum was subjected to extraction by molten lead and molten thallium. Thorium, uranium, aluminum, and fission products were found to be largely insoluble in thallium or lead. In the second, thorium and uranium were dissolved in zinc at a high temperature and precipitated at a lower temperature followed by filtration. Fission products were partially removed from the thorium and uranium by the zinc. Per cent removals for the rare earths and for the elements Pa, Ru, Ce, Zr, and Te were near 50%, whereas Sr and Cs were removed to an extent of over 95%. (auth)

Research Organization:
Atomics International. Div. of North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, Calif.
DOE Contract Number:
AT(11-1)-GEN-8
NSA Number:
NSA-15-007410
OSTI ID:
4114822
Report Number(s):
NAA-SR-5506
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English