PROCESS FOR PRODUCING URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
Abstract
A process for the production of uranium hexafluoride from the oxides of uranium is reported. In accordance with the method the higher oxides of uranium may be reduced to uranium dioxide (UO/sub 2/), the latter converted into uranium tetrafluoride by reaction with hydrogen fluoride, and the UF/sub 4/ convented to UF/sub 6/ by reaction with a fluorinating agent. The UO/sub 3/ or U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ is placed in a reaction chamber in a copper boat or tray enclosed in a copper oven, and heated to 500 to 650 deg C while hydrogen gas is passed through the oven. The oven is then swept clean of hydrogen and the water vapor formed by means of nitrogen and then while continuing to maintain the temperature between 400 and 600 deg C, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is passed through. After completion of the conversion to uranium tetrafluoride, the temperature of the reaction chamber is lowered to ahout 400 deg C, and elemental fluorine is used as the fluorinating agent for the conversion of UF/sub 4/ into UF/sub 6/. The fluorine gas is passed into the chamber, and the UF/sub 6/ formed passes out and is delivered to a condenser.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- OSTI Identifier:
- 4337222
- Patent Number(s):
- 2810626
- Assignee:
- U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01G - COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F
- NSA Number:
- NSA-12-004596
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- PATENTS; BUBBLE CHAMBERS; CONDENSERS; COPPER; CROSS SECTIONS; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; ENERGY RANGE; FIELD THEORY; FLUORINATION; GASES; HEATING; HYDROFLUORIC ACID; HYDROGEN; MEASURED VALUES; NITROGEN; NUMERICALS; PARTICLE TRACKS; PATENT; PIONS; PIONS-MINUS; PRODUCTION; PROTONS; S-WAVE; SCATTERING; SCATTERING LENGTH; TEMPERATURE; URANIUM DIOXIDE; URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE; URANIUM OXIDES; URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE; VAPORS; WATER
Citation Formats
Fowler, R D. PROCESS FOR PRODUCING URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE. United States: N. p., 1957.
Web.
Fowler, R D. PROCESS FOR PRODUCING URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE. United States.
Fowler, R D. Tue .
"PROCESS FOR PRODUCING URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE". United States.
@article{osti_4337222,
title = {PROCESS FOR PRODUCING URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE},
author = {Fowler, R D},
abstractNote = {A process for the production of uranium hexafluoride from the oxides of uranium is reported. In accordance with the method the higher oxides of uranium may be reduced to uranium dioxide (UO/sub 2/), the latter converted into uranium tetrafluoride by reaction with hydrogen fluoride, and the UF/sub 4/ convented to UF/sub 6/ by reaction with a fluorinating agent. The UO/sub 3/ or U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ is placed in a reaction chamber in a copper boat or tray enclosed in a copper oven, and heated to 500 to 650 deg C while hydrogen gas is passed through the oven. The oven is then swept clean of hydrogen and the water vapor formed by means of nitrogen and then while continuing to maintain the temperature between 400 and 600 deg C, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is passed through. After completion of the conversion to uranium tetrafluoride, the temperature of the reaction chamber is lowered to ahout 400 deg C, and elemental fluorine is used as the fluorinating agent for the conversion of UF/sub 4/ into UF/sub 6/. The fluorine gas is passed into the chamber, and the UF/sub 6/ formed passes out and is delivered to a condenser.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1957},
month = {10}
}