CHLORINATION OF URANIUM OXIDES (in German)
Uranium oxides can be converted to cliloride at relatively low temperatures by means of reduction chlorination. The chloride is also suitable for reduction to uranium metal. With carbon tetrachloride as a chlorinating agent, uranium oxides react at 400 deg C. Uranium chloride is formed via the intermediate stage of oxychloride. At low temperatures the uranium chloride remains residual, but at working temperatures of over 500 deg C it can be distilled off for the most part. It is advantageous to replace carbon tetrachloride by mixtures of chlorine and methane, which behave like carbon tetrachloride during chlorination. If the ratio of chlorine to methane is more than 4: 1, chlorination proceeds smoothly; at lower ratios soot is formed. Uranium ores can be chlo rinated like the pure oxide. However, except for silicon and aluminum oxide, almost all the accompanying substances, especially iron, calcium, and magnesium compounds, are also carried over into the chloride. Uranium chloride can be separated from these by distillation or fractional condensation. However, chlorination of uranium ores is economically feasible only if the ore has a relatively high uranium content, and there are no appreciable quantities of other chlorinatable minerals. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Technische Hochschule, Vienna; Austrochematom-Kernbrennstoff- Gesellschaft, Linz, Austria
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-030562
- OSTI ID:
- 4834357
- Journal Information:
- Atompraxis (West Germany) Incorporated in Kerntechnik, Journal Name: Atompraxis (West Germany) Incorporated in Kerntechnik Vol. Vol: 7; ISSN ATPXA
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- German
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