Uranium recovery from a nuclear fuel

Conference · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Prepr., Soc. Min. Eng. AIME; (United States)

OSTI ID:6264893

Miller, R L; Flinn, J E; Welch, J M

Two samples of iron enriched basalt (IEB) containing simulated nuclear fuel and having two distinct microstructures were prepared and tested for uranium recovery. The IEBs are refractory towards leaching by ground water. However, the uranium content (15.8%) is high enough that if aggressive leaching techniques are used for uranium recovery, these materials could be considered as man-made uranium ores. The IEBs discussed in this report were prepared to simulate Three Mile Island-2 core debris. The crushed IEBs were treated using three different methods simulating potential industrial scale processes. In one method the IEBs were fused with sodium hydroxide then the cooled mass leached first with water then with dilute sulfuric acid; about 52% of the uranium was recovered in this case. In the second method the IEBs were treated with a sulfuric acid/hydrogen peroxide lixiviant and about 13% of the uranium was recovered. In the third technique the IEBs were leached with a sodium carbonate/sodium bicarbonate/hydrogen peroxide solution. Only about 0.1% of the uranium was recovered. The results of these screening tests suggest that the IEBs can be successfully treated for recovery of the contained uranium. Other studies would be required to determine if other values, such as zirconium or silver, could be recovered from the IEBs.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, Idaho
• OSTI ID: 6264893
• Report Number(s): CONF-840218-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Prepr., Soc. Min. Eng. AIME; (United States) Journal Volume: 84-162
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BASALT
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CORIUM
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
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FUELS
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HYDROXIDES
IGNEOUS ROCKS
INORGANIC ACIDS
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METALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEROXIDES
POWER REACTORS
PROCESSING
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
RECOVERY
ROCKS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIMULATION
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SODIUM COMPOUNDS
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THERMAL REACTORS
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