SEPARATION OF URANIUM FROM THORIUM BY LIQUID METAL EXTRACTION. Interim Report

Technical Report · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1960

OSTI ID:4140424

Dodge, F W; Chilton, J D; Hanson, L A

A method of separating bred uranium from thorium blanket fuel by liquid metal extraction is under investigation. Experimental work to date on the thoriumuranium-magnesium system shows promise, and continued investigation is warranted. On dissolution of natural thorium--uranium fuel in molten magnesium over 95% of the uraaium introduced has been recovered as a uranium-thorium- magnesium concentrate. Satisfactory metallic buttons or castings essentially free of magnesium have been made from these uranium concentrates by either arc melting or induction heating after preliminary evaporation of the bulk of the magnesium. The lowest Th/U. ratio obtained to date is about 1/1, compared to 10/ 1 in the , original alloy. Type 300 series stainless steels have been found reasonably satisfactory for container vessels and piping, but there has been some evidence of contamination of the melts with iron and traces of nickel and chromium. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomics International Div., North AMerican Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, Calif.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-GEN-8
• NSA Number: NSA-14-014815
• OSTI ID: 4140424
• Report Number(s): NAA-SR-4942
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALLOYS
BLANKETS
CASTING
CHEMISTRY
CHROMIUM
CONTAMINATION
EVAPORATION
FUELS
HEATING
IRON
LIQUID METALS
MAGNESIUM
NICKEL
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
STAINLESS STEELS
THORIUM
URANIUM
VESSELS