DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Apparatus and methods for purifying lead

Abstract

Disclosed is an exemplary method of purifying lead which includes the steps of placing lead and a fluoride salt blend in a container; forming a first fluid of molten lead at a first temperature; forming a second fluid of the molten fluoride salt blend at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; mixing the first fluid and the second fluid together; separating the two fluids; solidifying the molten fluoride salt blend at a temperature above a melting point of the lead; and removing the molten lead from the container. In certain exemplary methods the molten lead is removed from the container by decanting. In still other exemplary methods the molten salt blend is a Lewis base fluoride eutectic salt blend, and in yet other exemplary methods the molten salt blend contains sodium fluoride, lithium fluoride, and potassium fluoride.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL), Niskayuna, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1234644
Patent Number(s):
9234258
Application Number:
14/182,788
Assignee:
U.S. Department of Energy
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21F - PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT
DOE Contract Number:  
AC12-00SN39357
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2014 Feb 18
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Tunison, Harmon M. Apparatus and methods for purifying lead. United States: N. p., 2016. Web.
Tunison, Harmon M. Apparatus and methods for purifying lead. United States.
Tunison, Harmon M. Tue . "Apparatus and methods for purifying lead". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1234644.
@article{osti_1234644,
title = {Apparatus and methods for purifying lead},
author = {Tunison, Harmon M.},
abstractNote = {Disclosed is an exemplary method of purifying lead which includes the steps of placing lead and a fluoride salt blend in a container; forming a first fluid of molten lead at a first temperature; forming a second fluid of the molten fluoride salt blend at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; mixing the first fluid and the second fluid together; separating the two fluids; solidifying the molten fluoride salt blend at a temperature above a melting point of the lead; and removing the molten lead from the container. In certain exemplary methods the molten lead is removed from the container by decanting. In still other exemplary methods the molten salt blend is a Lewis base fluoride eutectic salt blend, and in yet other exemplary methods the molten salt blend contains sodium fluoride, lithium fluoride, and potassium fluoride.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2016},
month = {1}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Purification of molten lead
patent, January 1986


Method for the refining of lead
patent, March 1990


High temperature cooling system and method
patent, December 2006