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Title: Method for Plutonium-Gallium Separation by Anodic Dissolution of a Solid Plutonium-Gallium Alloy

Abstract

Purified plutonium and gallium are efficiently recovered from a solid plutonium-gallium (Pu-Ga) alloy by using an electrorefining process. The solid Pu-Ga alloy is the cell anode, preferably placed in a moving basket within the electrolyte. As the surface of the Pu-Ga anode is depleted in plutonium by the electrotransport of the plutonium to a cathode, the temperature of the electrolyte is sufficient to liquify the surface, preferably at about 500 C, resulting in a liquid anode layer substantially comprised of gallium. The gallium drips from the liquified surface and is collected below the anode within the electrochemical cell. The transported plutonium is collected on the cathode surface and is recovered.

Inventors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI Identifier:
782812
Patent Number(s):
PATENTS-US-A9206959
Application Number:
9-206,959; TRN: AH200128%%3
Assignee:
DOEGC; EDB-01:070221
DOE Contract Number:  
W-31-109-ENG-38
Resource Type:
Patent Application
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 1998 Dec 08; Other Information: PBD: 8 Dec 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; PLUTONIUM ALLOYS; ANODES; CATHODES; DISSOLUTION; ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS; ELECTROLYTES; ELECTROREFINING; GALLIUM ALLOYS; SEPARATION PROCESSES; MATERIALS RECOVERY; LIQUID METALS

Citation Formats

Miller, William E, and Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Method for Plutonium-Gallium Separation by Anodic Dissolution of a Solid Plutonium-Gallium Alloy. United States: N. p., 1998. Web.
Miller, William E, & Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Method for Plutonium-Gallium Separation by Anodic Dissolution of a Solid Plutonium-Gallium Alloy. United States.
Miller, William E, and Tomczuk, Zygmunt. 1998. "Method for Plutonium-Gallium Separation by Anodic Dissolution of a Solid Plutonium-Gallium Alloy". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/782812.
@article{osti_782812,
title = {Method for Plutonium-Gallium Separation by Anodic Dissolution of a Solid Plutonium-Gallium Alloy},
author = {Miller, William E and Tomczuk, Zygmunt},
abstractNote = {Purified plutonium and gallium are efficiently recovered from a solid plutonium-gallium (Pu-Ga) alloy by using an electrorefining process. The solid Pu-Ga alloy is the cell anode, preferably placed in a moving basket within the electrolyte. As the surface of the Pu-Ga anode is depleted in plutonium by the electrotransport of the plutonium to a cathode, the temperature of the electrolyte is sufficient to liquify the surface, preferably at about 500 C, resulting in a liquid anode layer substantially comprised of gallium. The gallium drips from the liquified surface and is collected below the anode within the electrochemical cell. The transported plutonium is collected on the cathode surface and is recovered.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/782812}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 08 00:00:00 EST 1998},
month = {Tue Dec 08 00:00:00 EST 1998}
}