PROCESS FOR PRODUCING URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE

Patent · Tue Oct 22 04:00:00 EDT 1957

OSTI ID:4337222

Fowler, R D

A process for the production of uranium hexafluoride from the oxides of uranium is reported. In accordance with the method the higher oxides of uranium may be reduced to uranium dioxide (UO/sub 2/), the latter converted into uranium tetrafluoride by reaction with hydrogen fluoride, and the UF/sub 4/ convented to UF/sub 6/ by reaction with a fluorinating agent. The UO/sub 3/ or U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ is placed in a reaction chamber in a copper boat or tray enclosed in a copper oven, and heated to 500 to 650 deg C while hydrogen gas is passed through the oven. The oven is then swept clean of hydrogen and the water vapor formed by means of nitrogen and then while continuing to maintain the temperature between 400 and 600 deg C, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is passed through. After completion of the conversion to uranium tetrafluoride, the temperature of the reaction chamber is lowered to ahout 400 deg C, and elemental fluorine is used as the fluorinating agent for the conversion of UF/sub 4/ into UF/sub 6/. The fluorine gas is passed into the chamber, and the UF/sub 6/ formed passes out and is delivered to a condenser.

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-12-004596
• Assignee: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
• Patent Number(s): US 2810626
• OSTI ID: 4337222
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BUBBLE CHAMBERS
CONDENSERS
COPPER
CROSS SECTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
FIELD THEORY
FLUORINATION
GASES
HEATING
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN
MEASURED VALUES
NITROGEN
NUMERICALS
PARTICLE TRACKS
PATENT
PATENTS
PIONS
PIONS-MINUS
PRODUCTION
PROTONS
S-WAVE
SCATTERING
SCATTERING LENGTH
TEMPERATURE
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
URANIUM OXIDES
URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
VAPORS
WATER