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Title: Metal recovery from porous materials

Abstract

A method for recovering plutonium and other metals from materials by leaching comprising the steps of incinerating the materials to form a porous matrix as the residue of incineration, immersing the matrix into acid in a microwave-transparent pressure vessel, sealing the pressure vessel, and applying microwaves so that the temperature and the pressure in the pressure vessel increase. The acid for recovering plutonium can be a mixture of HBF.sub.4 and HNO.sub.3 and preferably the pressure is increased to at least 100 PSI and the temperature to at least 200.degree. C. The porous material can be pulverized before immersion to further increase the leach rate.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. P.O. Box 900, Isle of Palms, SC 29451
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
868499
Patent Number(s):
5154899
Assignee:
Sturcken, Edward F. (P.O. Box 900, Isle of Palms, SC 29451)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC09-89SR18035
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
metal; recovery; porous; materials; method; recovering; plutonium; metals; leaching; comprising; steps; incinerating; form; matrix; residue; incineration; immersing; acid; microwave-transparent; pressure; vessel; sealing; applying; microwaves; temperature; increase; mixture; hbf; hno; preferably; increased; 100; psi; 200; degree; material; pulverized; immersion; leach; rate; metal recovery; applying microwave; porous material; pressure vessel; porous materials; porous matrix; /423/204/

Citation Formats

Sturcken, Edward F. Metal recovery from porous materials. United States: N. p., 1992. Web.
Sturcken, Edward F. Metal recovery from porous materials. United States.
Sturcken, Edward F. Wed . "Metal recovery from porous materials". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868499.
@article{osti_868499,
title = {Metal recovery from porous materials},
author = {Sturcken, Edward F},
abstractNote = {A method for recovering plutonium and other metals from materials by leaching comprising the steps of incinerating the materials to form a porous matrix as the residue of incineration, immersing the matrix into acid in a microwave-transparent pressure vessel, sealing the pressure vessel, and applying microwaves so that the temperature and the pressure in the pressure vessel increase. The acid for recovering plutonium can be a mixture of HBF.sub.4 and HNO.sub.3 and preferably the pressure is increased to at least 100 PSI and the temperature to at least 200.degree. C. The porous material can be pulverized before immersion to further increase the leach rate.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Applications of microwave oven sample dissolution in analysis
journal, October 1984