RECOVERY OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE FROM A GAS STREAM BY ABSORPTION IN A FLUIDIZED BED OF URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
A unique absorption process for recovery of small quaintities of uranium hexafluoride vapors from a highly reactive gas stream is discussed along with the design criteria that were developed as a result of laboratory and pilot plant tests. The chemistry of thc absorption proccss is presentcd with a summary of the data collccted during laboratory and pilot plant testing. A description is also given of the plant scale absorption systom now in operation at the UF/sub 6/ manufacturing plant of the Union Carbide Nuclear Company at Paducah, Kentucky. The vent gases from the UF/sub 6/ manufacturing process at Paducah contain appreciable quantities of oxygen and nitrogen, some hydrofluoric acid and elemental fluorine, and small quantities of valuable uranium hexafluoride. To permit recovery of the UF/sub 6/, these vent gases are passed through a fluidized bed of green salt (uranium tetrafluoride) where essentially all of the UF/sub 6/ and a portion of the F/sub 2/ react to from solid uranium fluoride intermediates. When operated at 400SDEF, as much as 0.38 pounds of UF/sub 6/ or its equivalent of F/sub 2/ can be absorbed per pound of green salt. The green salt containing the absorbed UF/sub 6/ and F/sub 2/ can either be returned to the UF/sub 6/ manufacturing plant or regenerated with hydrogen. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Union Carbide Nuclear Co. Paducah Plant, Ky.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-001862
- OSTI ID:
- 4297346
- Report Number(s):
- KY-265
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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