Electrolysis cell for reprocessing plutonium reactor fuel

Patent · Fri Jan 04 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5281477

Miller, W E; Steindler, M J; Burris, L

An electrolytic cell for refining a mixture of metals including spent fuel containing U and Pu contaminated with other metals is claimed. The cell includes a metallic pot containing a metallic pool as one anode at a lower level, a fused salt as the electrolyte at an intermediate level and a cathode and an anode basket in spaced-apart positions in the electrolyte with the cathode and anode being retractable to positions above the electrolyte during which spent fuel may be added to the anode basket. The anode basket is extendable into the lower pool to dissolve at least some metallic contaminants; the anode basket contains the spent fuel acting as a second anode when in the electrolyte.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): None
• Application Number: ON: DE85017744
• OSTI ID: 5281477
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDES
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
ELECTROREFINING
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
LYSIS
MATERIALS
METALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PLUTONIUM
PROCESSING
REACTOR MATERIALS
REFINING
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPENT FUELS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
URANIUM