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Title: PRODUCTION OF 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/ converted to UF/sub 6/ by reaction with a fluorinating agent, such as CoF/sub 3/. The UO/sub 3/ or U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ is placed in a reac tion 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. After nitrogen gas is used to sweep out the hydrogen and the water vapor formed, and while continuing to inaintain the temperature between 400 deg C and 600 deg C, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is passed through. After completion of the conversion of UO/sub 2/ to UF/sub 4/ the temperature of the reaction chamber is lowered to about 400 deg C or less, the UF/sub 4/ is mixed with the requisite quantity of CoF/sub 3/, and after evacuating the chamber, the mixture is heated to 300 to 400 deg C, and the resulting UF/sub 6/ is led offmore » and delivered to a condenser.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Originating Research Org. not identified
OSTI Identifier:
4337271
Patent Number(s):
2804369
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-12-004588
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
PATENTS; CONDENSERS; COPPER; FLUORINATION; GASES; HEATING; NITROGEN; PATENT; PRODUCTION; REACTION KINETICS; TEMPERATURE; URANIUM DIOXIDE; URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE; URANIUM OXIDES; URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE; VAPORS; WATER

Citation Formats

Fowler, R D. PRODUCTION OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE. United States: N. p., 1957. Web.
Fowler, R D. PRODUCTION OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE. United States.
Fowler, R D. Tue . "PRODUCTION OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE". United States.
@article{osti_4337271,
title = {PRODUCTION OF 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/ converted to UF/sub 6/ by reaction with a fluorinating agent, such as CoF/sub 3/. The UO/sub 3/ or U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ is placed in a reac tion 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. After nitrogen gas is used to sweep out the hydrogen and the water vapor formed, and while continuing to inaintain the temperature between 400 deg C and 600 deg C, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is passed through. After completion of the conversion of UO/sub 2/ to UF/sub 4/ the temperature of the reaction chamber is lowered to about 400 deg C or less, the UF/sub 4/ is mixed with the requisite quantity of CoF/sub 3/, and after evacuating the chamber, the mixture is heated to 300 to 400 deg C, and the resulting UF/sub 6/ is led off and delivered to a condenser.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 27 00:00:00 EDT 1957},
month = {Tue Aug 27 00:00:00 EDT 1957}
}

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