Recovery of UO{sub 2}/PuO{sub 2} in IFR electrorefining process
Abstract
This invention is comprised of a process for converting PuO{sub 2} and U0{sub 2} present in an electrorefiner to the chlorides, by contacting the PuO{sub 2} and U0{sub 2} with Li metal in the presence of an alkali metal chloride salt substantially free of rare earth and actinide chlorides for a time and at a temperature sufficient to convert the U0{sub 2} and PuO{sub 2} to metals while converting Li metal to Li{sub 2}O. Li{sub 2}O is removed either by reducing with rare earth metals or by providing an oxygen electrode for transporting 0{sub 2} out of the electrorefiner and a cathode, and thereafter applying an emf to the electrorefiner electrodes sufficient to cause the Li{sub 2}O to disassociate to 0{sub 2} and Li metal but insufficient to decompose the alkali metal chloride salt. The U and Pu and excess lithium are then converted to chlorides by reaction with CdCl{sub 2}.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 10116699
- Patent Number(s):
- 7967652
- Application Number:
- ON: DE95006132; PAN: 7-967,652;
- Assignee:
- ANL; SCA: 052001; 320305; PA: EDB-95:040707; SN: 95001320269
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F21 - LIGHTING F21K - NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 1992 Oct 28; Other Information: PBD: 1992; Related Information: U. S. Patent No. 5,356,605. Filed 10/18/1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; PLUTONIUM OXIDES; ELECTROREFINING; URANIUM OXIDES; PLUTONIUM; MATERIALS RECOVERY; URANIUM; INVENTIONS; DESIGN; PLUTONIUM CHLORIDES; URANIUM CHLORIDES; 052001; 320305; WASTE PROCESSING; INDUSTRIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
Citation Formats
Tomczuk, Z, and Miller, W E. Recovery of UO{sub 2}/PuO{sub 2} in IFR electrorefining process. United States: N. p., 1992.
Web.
Tomczuk, Z, & Miller, W E. Recovery of UO{sub 2}/PuO{sub 2} in IFR electrorefining process. United States.
Tomczuk, Z, and Miller, W E. Wed .
"Recovery of UO{sub 2}/PuO{sub 2} in IFR electrorefining process". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10116699.
@article{osti_10116699,
title = {Recovery of UO{sub 2}/PuO{sub 2} in IFR electrorefining process},
author = {Tomczuk, Z and Miller, W E},
abstractNote = {This invention is comprised of a process for converting PuO{sub 2} and U0{sub 2} present in an electrorefiner to the chlorides, by contacting the PuO{sub 2} and U0{sub 2} with Li metal in the presence of an alkali metal chloride salt substantially free of rare earth and actinide chlorides for a time and at a temperature sufficient to convert the U0{sub 2} and PuO{sub 2} to metals while converting Li metal to Li{sub 2}O. Li{sub 2}O is removed either by reducing with rare earth metals or by providing an oxygen electrode for transporting 0{sub 2} out of the electrorefiner and a cathode, and thereafter applying an emf to the electrorefiner electrodes sufficient to cause the Li{sub 2}O to disassociate to 0{sub 2} and Li metal but insufficient to decompose the alkali metal chloride salt. The U and Pu and excess lithium are then converted to chlorides by reaction with CdCl{sub 2}.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}