Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel
Abstract
A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO.sub.2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1260245
- Patent Number(s):
- 9382632
- Application Number:
- 14/312,098
- Assignee:
- Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC (Aiken, SC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25C - PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-08SR22470
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2014 Jun 23
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
Citation Formats
Garcia-Diaz, Brenda L., Martinez-Rodriguez, Michael J., Gray, Joshua R., and Olson, Luke C. Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web.
Garcia-Diaz, Brenda L., Martinez-Rodriguez, Michael J., Gray, Joshua R., & Olson, Luke C. Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel. United States.
Garcia-Diaz, Brenda L., Martinez-Rodriguez, Michael J., Gray, Joshua R., and Olson, Luke C. Tue .
"Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1260245.
@article{osti_1260245,
title = {Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel},
author = {Garcia-Diaz, Brenda L. and Martinez-Rodriguez, Michael J. and Gray, Joshua R. and Olson, Luke C.},
abstractNote = {A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO.sub.2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2016},
month = {7}
}