Pyrochemical recovery of plutonium from calcium fluoride reduction slag

Patent ·

OSTI ID:5383601

Christensen, D C

A pyrochemical method of recovering finely dispersed plutonium metal from calcium fluoride reduction slag is claimed. The plutonium-bearing slag is crushed and melted in the presence of at least an equimolar amount of calcium chloride and a few percent metallic calcium. The calcium chloride reduces the melting point and thereby decreases the viscosity of the molten mixture. The calcium reduces any oxidized plutonium in the mixture and also causes the dispersed plutonium metal to coalesce and settle out as a separate metallic phase at the bottom of the reaction vessel. Upon cooling the mixture to room temperature, the solid plutonium can be cleanly separated from the overlying solid slag, with an average recovery yield on the order of 96 percent.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: EDB-84-036615
• Patent Number(s): None
• Application Number: ON: DE84006164
• OSTI ID: 5383601
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101* -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
ACTINIDES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM HALIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
PLUTONIUM
RECOVERY
REDUCTION
SLAGS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS