PROCESS FOR PREPARING URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
Uranium tetrafluoride in the form of large high-purity water-free crystals may be prepared from aqueous solutions of U/sup 6+/ by electrolytically reducing U/sup 6+/ to U/sup 4+/, ex tracting U/sup 4+/ with an organic solution of an organic phosphate, amine, or chelating agent, and adding a soluble fluoride to the organic extract in order to precipitate UF/sub 4/, which then is filtered, washed, and dried in a furnace. The solid before drying contains>97% UF/sub 4/ and approximately 0.4% H/sub 2/O and consequently can be easily dried to 0.02% H/ sub 2/O content. The preferred extractant is di-2-ethylhexyl hydrogen phosphate, although isooctylamine and thenoyl trifluoroacetone can be used as an amine and a chelating agent, respectively. Uranium tetrafluoride prepared in this way is particularly suitable for use in the production of uranium metal by the magnesium reduction method. Procedures and a flowsheet are presented for the preparation of UF/sub 4/ from crude uranium ore or uranium ore concentrate using the above method; they involve extraction of uranium and stripping the extract with carbonate solutions prior to the electrolytic reduction, extraction, and precipitation of UF/sub 4/. Three examples of UF4/sup /eparation from ore and solutions of>s uranium are given. (D.L.C.)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-000271
- OSTI ID:
- 4126637
- Report Number(s):
- GB 849512
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALKYL RADICALS
AMINES
CARBONATES
CHELATES
CHEMISTRY
CRYSTALS
DEHPA
DIAGRAMS
ELECTROLYSIS
FLUORIDES
FURNACES
MAGNESIUM
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORIC ACID
PLANNING
PRECIPITATION
PREPARATION
PRODUCTION
REDUCTION
SOLIDS
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENTS
URANIUM
URANIUM ORES
URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
USES
WATER