Process for continuous production of metallic uranium and uranium alloys

Patent · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869915

Horton, James A ^[1]; Elliott, Guy R. B. ^[2]

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1. Livermore, CA
2. Los Alamos, NM

A method is described for forming metallic uranium, or a uranium alloy, from uranium oxide in a manner which substantially eliminates the formation of uranium-containing wastes. A source of uranium dioxide is first provided, for example, by reducing uranium trioxide (UO.sub.3), or any other substantially stable uranium oxide, to form the uranium dioxide (UO.sub.2). This uranium dioxide is then chlorinated to form uranium tetrachloride (UCl.sub.4), and the uranium tetrachloride is then reduced to metallic uranium by reacting the uranium chloride with a metal which will form the chloride of the metal. This last step may be carried out in the presence of another metal capable of forming one or more alloys with metallic uranium to thereby lower the melting point of the reduced uranium product. The metal chloride formed during the uranium tetrachloride reduction step may then be reduced in an electrolysis cell to recover and recycle the metal back to the uranium tetrachloride reduction operation and the chlorine gas back to the uranium dioxide chlorination operation.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5421855
• OSTI ID: 869915
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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/75/205/
alloy
alloys
capable
carried
cell
chloride
chloride form
chlorinated
chlorination
chlorine
chlorine gas
containing waste
containing wastes
continuous
continuous production
described
dioxide
electrolysis
electrolysis cell
eliminates
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form
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formation
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gas
manner
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oxide
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reducing
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source
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substantially
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ucl
uo
uranium
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uranium alloys
uranium chloride
uranium dioxide
uranium oxide
uranium product
uranium-containing
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