Electrorefining process and apparatus for recovery of uranium and a mixture of uranium and plutonium from spent fuels

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:867172

Ackerman, John P ^[1]; Miller, William E ^[2]

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1. Downers Grove, IL
2. Naperville, IL

An electrorefining process and apparatus for the recovery of uranium and a mixture of uranium and plutonium from spent fuel using an electrolytic cell having a lower molten cadmium pool containing spent nuclear fuel, an intermediate electrolyte pool, an anode basket containing spent fuel, and two cathodes, the first cathode composed of either a solid alloy or molten cadmium and the second cathode composed of molten cadmium. Using this cell, additional amounts of uranium and plutonium from the anode basket are dissolved in the lower molten cadmium pool, and then substantially pure uranium is electrolytically transported and deposited on the first alloy or molten cadmium cathode. Subsequently, a mixture of uranium and plutonium is electrotransported and deposited on the second molten cadmium cathode.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4880506
• OSTI ID: 867172
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

electrorefining
process
apparatus
recovery
uranium
mixture
plutonium
spent
fuels
fuel
electrolytic
cell
molten
cadmium
pool
containing
nuclear
intermediate
electrolyte
anode
basket
cathodes
cathode
composed
solid
alloy
additional
amounts
dissolved
substantially
pure
electrolytically
transported
deposited
subsequently
electrotransported
anode basket
pure uranium
substantially pure
electrolytic cell
nuclear fuel
spent nuclear
spent fuel
refining process
pool containing
spent fuels
electrorefining process
additional amount
solid alloy
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