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U.S. Department of Energy
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PROCESS DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY REPORT. PART II-PILOT PLANT WORK

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4181385
The washing of solvent with dilute sulfuric acid followed by sodium carbonate solution was found effective in a pilot plant study of solvent treatment. Theoretical calculations indicate that the addition of phosphoric acid to the wssh column will effectively improve thorium decontamination in the refinery. Ailse columns were used successfully in the pilot plant study of the recovery of nitric acid from raffinates by solvert extraction. Acid was recovered as a 12.5% solution with yields as high as 92%. A method was developed for using the pot wall temperature to control the denitration pot cycle. The denitration pots will be changed to this type of control. Extended pot life and better control of product uniformity is expected from this change. Seven runs were made in the new continuous pilot plant fluid-bed reactor. UO/sub 3/ produc- tion rates of up to 200 lbs/hr/sq ft were achieved, and heat transfer coefficients of 30 to 70 Btu/hr/sq ft/ deg F were observed. A continuous fluidized-bed hydrofluorination reactor was designed for pilot plant investigation of the usefulness of the varying cross-section technique in this step. The reactor was designed to process 75 pounds of UO/sub 2/ per hour. Attempts to achieve low hydrogen contents in dingot metal by bomb reactions conducted in vacuurn, through hydrogen-absorbing additives to the liner, or by protecting the molten metal of the bomb as much as possible from any contact with liner or product slag were ineffective. Adequate vacuum outgassing of 7-inch- diameter rounds of dingot uranium at 1850 deg F can be achieved within reasonable pumping -time periods. Direct casting from the dingot bomb shell in vacuum to a graphite mold is under study as a means of hydrogen removal. (auth)
Research Organization:
Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, St. Louis
NSA Number:
NSA-14-016691
OSTI ID:
4181385
Report Number(s):
MCW-1421
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English