Conversion of depleted uranium hexafluoride to a solid uranium compound

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:874053

Rothman, Alan B ^[1]; Graczyk, Donald G ^[2]; Essling, Alice M ^[3]; Horwitz, E Philip ^[4]

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1. Willowbrook, IL
2. Lemont, IL
3. Elmhurst, IL
4. Naperville, IL

A process for converting UF.sub.6 to a solid uranium compound such as UO.sub.2 and CaF. The UF.sub.6 vapor form is contacted with an aqueous solution of NH.sub.4 OH at a pH greater than 7 to precipitate at least some solid uranium values as a solid leaving an aqueous solution containing NH.sub.4 OH and NH.sub.4 F and remaining uranium values. The solid uranium values are separated from the aqueous solution of NH.sub.4 OH and NH.sub.4 F and remaining uranium values which is then diluted with additional water precipitating more uranium values as a solid leaving trace quantities of uranium in a dilute aqueous solution. The dilute aqueous solution is contacted with an ion-exchange resin to remove substantially all the uranium values from the dilute aqueous solution. The dilute solution being contacted with Ca(OH).sub.2 to precipitate CaF.sub.2 leaving dilute NH.sub.4 OH.

• Research Organization: EMRICH & DITHMAR
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-98CH10913
• Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 6303090
• OSTI ID: 874053
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

conversion
depleted
uranium
hexafluoride
solid
compound
process
converting
ufsub6
uosub2
caf
vapor
form
contacted
aqueous
solution
nhsub4
oh
ph
precipitate
values
leaving
containing
remaining
separated
diluted
additional
water
precipitating
trace
quantities
dilute
ion-exchange
resin
remove
substantially
caohsub2
cafsub2
aqueous solution
exchange resin
uranium values
ion-exchange resin
vapor form
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