Apparatus and process for the electrolytic reduction of uranium and plutonium oxides
Abstract
An apparatus and process for reducing uranium and/or plutonium oxides to produce a solid, high-purity metal. The apparatus is an electrolyte cell consisting of a first container, and a smaller second container within the first container. An electrolyte fills both containers, the level of the electrolyte in the first container being above the top of the second container so that the electrolyte can be circulated between the containers. The anode is positioned in the first container while the cathode is located in the second container. Means are provided for passing an inert gas into the electrolyte near the lower end of the anode to sparge the electrolyte and to remove gases which form on the anode during the reduction operation. Means are also provided for mixing and stirring the electrolyte in the first container to solubilize the metal oxide in the electrolyte and to transport the electrolyte containing dissolved oxide into contact with the cathode in the second container. The cell is operated at a temperature below the melting temperature of the metal product so that the metal forms as a solid on the cathode.
- Inventors:
-
- Naperville, IL
- Orland Park, IL
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 867721
- Patent Number(s):
- 4995948
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25C - PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- apparatus; process; electrolytic; reduction; uranium; plutonium; oxides; reducing; produce; solid; high-purity; metal; electrolyte; cell; consisting; container; fills; containers; level; top; circulated; anode; positioned; cathode; located; means; provided; passing; inert; gas; near; sparge; remove; gases; form; operation; mixing; stirring; solubilize; oxide; transport; containing; dissolved; contact; operated; temperature; below; melting; product; forms; plutonium oxide; containing dissolved; electrolyte containing; melting temperature; temperature below; metal oxide; inert gas; electrolytic reduction; metal product; electrolyte fill; plutonium oxides; purity metal; reducing uranium; electrolyte cell; remove gas; /205/204/
Citation Formats
Poa, David S, Burris, Leslie, Steunenberg, Robert K, and Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Apparatus and process for the electrolytic reduction of uranium and plutonium oxides. United States: N. p., 1991.
Web.
Poa, David S, Burris, Leslie, Steunenberg, Robert K, & Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Apparatus and process for the electrolytic reduction of uranium and plutonium oxides. United States.
Poa, David S, Burris, Leslie, Steunenberg, Robert K, and Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Tue .
"Apparatus and process for the electrolytic reduction of uranium and plutonium oxides". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867721.
@article{osti_867721,
title = {Apparatus and process for the electrolytic reduction of uranium and plutonium oxides},
author = {Poa, David S and Burris, Leslie and Steunenberg, Robert K and Tomczuk, Zygmunt},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and process for reducing uranium and/or plutonium oxides to produce a solid, high-purity metal. The apparatus is an electrolyte cell consisting of a first container, and a smaller second container within the first container. An electrolyte fills both containers, the level of the electrolyte in the first container being above the top of the second container so that the electrolyte can be circulated between the containers. The anode is positioned in the first container while the cathode is located in the second container. Means are provided for passing an inert gas into the electrolyte near the lower end of the anode to sparge the electrolyte and to remove gases which form on the anode during the reduction operation. Means are also provided for mixing and stirring the electrolyte in the first container to solubilize the metal oxide in the electrolyte and to transport the electrolyte containing dissolved oxide into contact with the cathode in the second container. The cell is operated at a temperature below the melting temperature of the metal product so that the metal forms as a solid on the cathode.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}