Method for plutonium-gallium separation by anodic dissolution of a solid plutonium-gallium alloy
Abstract
Purified plutonium and gallium are efficiently recovered from a solid plutonium-gallium (Pu--Ga) alloy by using an electrorefining process. The solid Pu--Ga alloy is the cell anode, preferably placed in a moving basket within the electrolyte. As the surface of the Pu--Ga anode is depleted in plutonium by the electrotransport of the plutonium to a cathode, the temperature of the electrolyte is sufficient to liquify the surface, preferably at about 500.degree. C., resulting in a liquid anode layer substantially comprised of gallium. The gallium drips from the liquified surface and is collected below the anode within the electrochemical cell. The transported plutonium is collected on the cathode surface and is recovered.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- United States Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1531436
- Patent Number(s):
- 6187163
- Application Number:
- 09/206,959
- Assignee:
- The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25C - PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 1998-12-08
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
Citation Formats
Miller, William E., and Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Method for plutonium-gallium separation by anodic dissolution of a solid plutonium-gallium alloy. United States: N. p., 2001.
Web.
Miller, William E., & Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Method for plutonium-gallium separation by anodic dissolution of a solid plutonium-gallium alloy. United States.
Miller, William E., and Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Tue .
"Method for plutonium-gallium separation by anodic dissolution of a solid plutonium-gallium alloy". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1531436.
@article{osti_1531436,
title = {Method for plutonium-gallium separation by anodic dissolution of a solid plutonium-gallium alloy},
author = {Miller, William E. and Tomczuk, Zygmunt},
abstractNote = {Purified plutonium and gallium are efficiently recovered from a solid plutonium-gallium (Pu--Ga) alloy by using an electrorefining process. The solid Pu--Ga alloy is the cell anode, preferably placed in a moving basket within the electrolyte. As the surface of the Pu--Ga anode is depleted in plutonium by the electrotransport of the plutonium to a cathode, the temperature of the electrolyte is sufficient to liquify the surface, preferably at about 500.degree. C., resulting in a liquid anode layer substantially comprised of gallium. The gallium drips from the liquified surface and is collected below the anode within the electrochemical cell. The transported plutonium is collected on the cathode surface and is recovered.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2001},
month = {2}
}
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Works referenced in this record:
Electrorefining process and apparatus for recovery of uranium and a mixture of uranium and plutonium from spent fuels
patent, November 1989
- Ackerman, John P.; Miller, William E.
- US Patent Document 4,880,506
Electrorefiner
patent, August 1995
- Miller, William E.; Tomczuk, Zygmunt
- US Patent Document 5,443,705
Electrolysis cell for reprocessing plutonium reactor fuel
patent, June 1986
- Miller, William E.; Steindler, Martin J.; Burris, Leslie
- US Patent Document 4,596,647
Method and Apparatus for Improving Recovery of Plutonium-Gallium Alloys by Electrorefining
patent, December 1968
- Leary, Joseph A.; Mullins, JR., Lawrence J.; Buchen, John F.
- US Patent Document 3,417,002