Electrolytic recovery of reactor metal fuel

Patent · Tue Sep 20 00:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:7163860

Miller, W E; Tomczuk, Z

A new electrolytic process and apparatus are provided using sodium, cerium or a similar metal in alloy or within a sodium beta or beta[double prime]-alumina sodium ion conductor to electrolytically displace each of the spent fuel metals except for cesium and strontium on a selective basis from the electrolyte to an inert metal cathode. Each of the metals can be deposited separately. An electrolytic transfer of spent fuel into the electrolyte includes a sodium or cerium salt in the electrolyte with sodium or cerium alloy being deposited on the cathode during the transfer of the metals from the spent fuel. The cathode with the deposit of sodium or cerium alloy is then shunted to an anode and the reverse transfer is carried out on a selective basis with each metal being deposited separately at the cathode. The result is that the sodium or cerium needed for the process is regenerated in the first step and no additional source of these reactants is required. 2 figs.

• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5348626; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 8-012713
• OSTI ID: 7163860
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 3 Feb 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
DESIGN
SPENT FUELS
ELECTROLYSIS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
DISSOLUTION
ELECTRODEPOSITION
OPERATION
REPROCESSING
DEPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
LYSIS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PROCESSING
REACTOR MATERIALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SURFACE COATING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
050800* - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing