PROCESS FOR THE SEPARATION OF HEAVY METALS

Patent · Tue Jan 27 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4252981

Gofman, J W; Connick, R E; Wahl, A C

A method is presented for thc separation of plutonium from uranium and the fission products with which it is associated. The method is based on the fact that hexavalent plutonium forms an insoluble complex precipitate with sodium acetate, as does the uranyl ion, while reduced plutonium is not precipitated by sodium acetate. Several embodiments are shown, e.g., a solution containing plutonium and uranium in the hexavalent state may be contacted with sodium acetate causing the formation of a sodium uranyl acetate precipitate which carries the plutonium values while the fission products remain in solution. If the original solution is treated with a reducing agent, so that the plutonium is reduced while the uranium remains in the hexavalent state, and sodium and acetate ions are added, the uranium will precipitutc while the plutonium remains in solution effecting separation of the Pu from urarium.

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-13-013379
• Assignee: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
• Patent Number(s): US 2871251
• OSTI ID: 4252981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACETATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
ELECTRIC CHARGES
FISSION PRODUCTS
METALS
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM COMPLEXES
PRECIPITATION
REDUCTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SOLUBILITY
SOLUTIONS
URANIUM
URANYL COMPOUNDS