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

Patent · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988

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
• 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

/205/204/976/
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cadmium
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cell
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electrolyte
electrolytic
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fuel
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process
pure
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solid
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spent
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subsequently
substantially
substantially pure
transported
uranium