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

PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY AND PURIFICATION OF URANIUM DEPOSITS

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4296394

A process is presented for recovering uranium values from UCl/sub 4/ deposits formed on calutrons. Such deposits are removed from the calutron parts by an aqueous wash solution which then contains the uranium values in addition to the following impurities: Ni, Cu, Fe, and Cr. This impurity bearing wash solution is treated with an oxidizing agent, and the oxidized solution is then treated with ammonia in order to precipitate the uranium as ammonium diuranate. The metal impurities of iron and chromium, which form insoluble hydroxides, are precipitated along with the uranium values. The precipitate is separated from the solution, dissolved in acid, and the solution again treated with ammonia and ammonium carbonate, which results in the precipitation of the metal impurities as hydroxides while the uranium values remain in solution.

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-13-008361
Assignee:
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
Patent Number(s):
US 2856263
OSTI ID:
4296394
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English