EXCHANGE OF URANIUM BETWEEN BETA URANIUM PENTAFLUORIDE AND GASEOUS URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE

Technical Report · Fri Jul 13 04:00:00 EDT 1951

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4343973· OSTI ID:4343973

Davis, W Jr; Rutledge, G P

S>Exchange of U between beta UF/sub 5/ and gaseous UF/sub 6/ has been studied in the temperature range 80 to 140 deg C. Series experiments, consisting of exposure of a sample of enriched (17.98 wt.% U/sup 235/) UF/sub 5/ to several successive samples of normal UF/sub 6/, as well as one-exposure experiments have been performed. The decrease in first order rate constants, indicates that neither chemical reaction at the gassolid interface nor diffusion of UF/sub 6/ through an adsorbed gas layer controls the rate of exchange of U between gas and solid. Exchange rates are compatible with a process controlled by diffusion of U in and through the solid. Estimates of the diffusion coefficient vary from 0.3 to 11 x 10/sup -14/ sq. cm/hr (on the basis of N/sub 2/ surface areas and the assumption of uniform particle size). The effect of temperature is poorly defined by the present data, being equivalent to an activation energy for diffusion of 7.3 plus or minus 12.5 kcal/mole. Cver the temperature range 80 to 140 deg C the average value of the diffusion coefficient is 2.6 x 10/sup -14/ sq. cm/hr. (auth)

• Research Organization: Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Co. K-25 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• NSA Number: NSA-12-002850
• OSTI ID: 4343973
• Report Number(s): K-790(Del.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ADSORPTION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DIFFUSION
ENRICHMENT
GASES
GRAIN SIZE
ISOTOPIC EXCHANGE
LAYERS
REACTION KINETICS
SOLIDS
TEMPERATURE
URANIUM
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE