Method for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal

Patent · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:866463

Duerksen, Walter K ^[1]

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1. Norris, TN

A process is described for converting scrap and waste uranium oxide to uranium metal. The uranium oxide is sequentially reduced with a suitable reducing agent to a mixture of uranium metal and oxide products. The uranium metal is then converted to uranium hydride and the uranium hydride-containing mixture is then cooled to a temperature less than -100.degree. C. in an inert liquid which renders the uranium hydride ferromagnetic. The uranium hydride is then magnetically separated from the cooled mixture. The separated uranium hydride is readily converted to uranium metal by heating in an inert atmosphere. This process is environmentally acceptable and eliminates the use of hydrogen fluoride as well as the explosive conditions encountered in the previously employed bomb-reduction processes utilized for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal.

• Research Organization: LOCKHEED MARTIN ENRGY SYST INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4717420
• OSTI ID: 866463
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

-100
/75/
acceptable
agent
atmosphere
bomb-reduction
conditions
converted
converting
converting uranium
cooled
degree
described
eliminates
employed
encountered
environmentally
environmentally acceptable
explosive
ferromagnetic
fluoride
heating
hydride
hydride-containing
hydrogen
hydrogen fluoride
inert
inert atmosphere
inert liquid
liquid
magnetically
metal
method
mixture
oxide
oxide product
oxides
previously
process
processes
products
readily
readily converted
reduced
reducing
reducing agent
reduction process
renders
scrap
separated
sequentially
sequentially reduce
suitable
temperature
uranium
uranium metal
uranium oxide
uranium oxides
utilized
waste