Method for decontamination of nickel-fluoride-coated nickel containing actinide-metal fluorides

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:864803

Windt, Norman F ^[1]; Williams, Joe L ^[1]

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1. Paducah, KY

The invention is a process for decontaminating particulate nickel contaminated with actinide-metal fluorides. In one aspect, the invention comprises contacting nickel-fluoride-coated nickel with gaseous ammonia at a temperature effecting nickel-catalyzed dissociation thereof and effecting hydrogen-reduction of the nickel fluoride. The resulting nickel is heated to form a melt and a slag and to effect transfer of actinide metals from the melt into the slag. The melt and slag are then separated. In another aspect, nickel containing nickel oxide and actinide metals is contacted with ammonia at a temperature effecting nickel-catalyzed dissociation to effect conversion of the nickel oxide to the metal. The resulting nickel is then melted and separated as described. In another aspect nickel-fluoride-coated nickel containing actinide-metal fluorides is contacted with both steam and ammonia. The resulting nickel then is melted and separated as described. The invention is characterized by higher nickel recovery, efficient use of ammonia, a substantial decrease in slag formation and fuming, and a valuable increase in the service life of the furnace liners used for melting.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4421556
• OSTI ID: 864803
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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actinide
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actinide metals
actinide-metal
actinide-metal fluorides
ammonia
aspect
characterized
comprises
comprises contacting
contacted
contacting
containing
contaminated
conversion
decontaminating
decontamination
decrease
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dissociation
effect
effecting
efficient
fluoride
fluorides
form
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fuming
furnace
gaseous
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heated
hydrogen-reduction
increase
life
liners
melt
melted
melting
metal
metal fluoride
metal fluorides
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method
nickel
nickel containing
nickel fluoride
nickel oxide
nickel-catalyzed
nickel-fluoride-coated
oxide
particulate
process
recovery
resulting
separated
service
service life
slag
steam
substantial
temperature
temperature effecting
transfer
valuable