Preparation of controlled particle size U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ by uranyl formate precipitation and calcination

Technical Report · Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6442628· OSTI ID:6442628

Johnson, D R

A conceptual process flowsheet for preparation of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ by precipitating uranyl formate monohydrate with excess formic acid and calcining it was developed and demonstrated on a laboratory scale. The product U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ has a particle size distribution apropriate for fabrication of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/-Al fuel by powder metallurgy. The U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ particles are crystalline, do not exceed 150 ..mu..m in diameter, and have a narrow particle size distribution with most particles within the range of 44 to 150 ..mu..m. A ten-fold decontamination of uranium from low-level fission products during uranyl formate precipitation was demonstrated. Minimal variations in U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ particle size distribution as a function of various uranyl formate precipitation conditions were observed. Preliminary tests demonstrated that calcination of uranyl formate monohydrate recovered from solution by evaporation to dryness did not produce U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ with the desired particle size distribution. Calcination of uranyl oxalate, uranous oxalate, or uranous formate also did not produce U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ with the appropriate particle size distribution.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-09-0001
• OSTI ID: 6442628
• Report Number(s): DP-1466; TRN: 79-004557
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
URANIUM OXIDES U3O8
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CALCINATION
FORMATES
PARTICLE SIZE
PRECIPITATION
URANYL COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PYROLYSIS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SYNTHESIS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM OXIDES
050400* - Nuclear Fuels- Feed Processing
400702 - Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry- Properties of Radioactive Materials