METHOD OF DISSOLVING REFRACTORY ALLOYS
Abstract
This patent relates to the dissolution of alloys of uranium with zirconium, thorium, molybdenum, or niobium. The alloy is contacted with an anhydrous solution of mercuric chloride in a low-molecular-weight monohydric alcohol to produce a mercury-containing alcohol slurry. The slurry is then converted to an aqueous system by adding water and driving off the alcohol. The resulting aqueous slurry is electrolyzed in the presence of a mercury cathode to remove the mercury and produce a uranium-bearing aqueous solution. This process is useful for dissolving irradiated nuclear reactor fuels for radiochemical reprocessing by solvent extraction. In addition, zirconium-alloy cladding is selectively removed from uranium dioxide fuel compacts by this means. (AEC)
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 4742971
- Patent Number(s):
- 3086926
- Assignee:
- U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-018214
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- CHEMISTRY; ALCOHOLS; CATHODES; ELECTROLYSIS; FUEL CANS; MERCURY; MERCURY CHLORIDES; MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS; NIOBIUM ALLOYS; REPROCESSING; SEPARATION PROCESSES; SLURRIES; SOLUTIONS; SOLVENT EXTRACTION; THORIUM ALLOYS; URANIUM ALLOYS; URANIUM COMPOUNDS; URANIUM DIOXIDE; WATER; ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
Citation Formats
Helton, D M, and Savolainen, J K. METHOD OF DISSOLVING REFRACTORY ALLOYS. United States: N. p., 1963.
Web.
Helton, D M, & Savolainen, J K. METHOD OF DISSOLVING REFRACTORY ALLOYS. United States.
Helton, D M, and Savolainen, J K. Tue .
"METHOD OF DISSOLVING REFRACTORY ALLOYS". United States.
@article{osti_4742971,
title = {METHOD OF DISSOLVING REFRACTORY ALLOYS},
author = {Helton, D M and Savolainen, J K},
abstractNote = {This patent relates to the dissolution of alloys of uranium with zirconium, thorium, molybdenum, or niobium. The alloy is contacted with an anhydrous solution of mercuric chloride in a low-molecular-weight monohydric alcohol to produce a mercury-containing alcohol slurry. The slurry is then converted to an aqueous system by adding water and driving off the alcohol. The resulting aqueous slurry is electrolyzed in the presence of a mercury cathode to remove the mercury and produce a uranium-bearing aqueous solution. This process is useful for dissolving irradiated nuclear reactor fuels for radiochemical reprocessing by solvent extraction. In addition, zirconium-alloy cladding is selectively removed from uranium dioxide fuel compacts by this means. (AEC)},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1963},
month = {4}
}