U.sup.+4 generation in HTER
Abstract
A improved device and process for recycling spent nuclear fuels, in particular uranium metal, that facilitates the refinement and recovery of uranium metal from spent metallic nuclear fuels. The electrorefiner device comprises two anodes in predetermined spatial relation to a cathode. The anodese have separate current and voltage controls. A much higher voltage than normal for the electrorefining process is applied to the second anode, thereby facilitating oxidization of uranium (III), U.sup.+, to uranium (IV), U.sup.+4. The current path from the second anode to the cathode is physically shorter than the similar current path from the second anode to the spent nuclear fuel contained in a first anode shaped as a basket. The resulting U.sup.+4 oxidizes and solubilizes rough uranium deposited on the surface of the cathode. A softer uranium metal surface is left on the cathode and is more readily removed by a scraper.
- Inventors:
-
- Naperville, IL
- Park Forest, IL
- Homer Glen, IL
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 908550
- Patent Number(s):
- 7011736
- Application Number:
- 10/637,089
- Assignee:
- The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy (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-31-109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
Citation Formats
Miller, William E, Gay, Eddie C, and Tomczuk, Zygmunt. U.sup.+4 generation in HTER. United States: N. p., 2006.
Web.
Miller, William E, Gay, Eddie C, & Tomczuk, Zygmunt. U.sup.+4 generation in HTER. United States.
Miller, William E, Gay, Eddie C, and Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Tue .
"U.sup.+4 generation in HTER". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/908550.
@article{osti_908550,
title = {U.sup.+4 generation in HTER},
author = {Miller, William E and Gay, Eddie C and Tomczuk, Zygmunt},
abstractNote = {A improved device and process for recycling spent nuclear fuels, in particular uranium metal, that facilitates the refinement and recovery of uranium metal from spent metallic nuclear fuels. The electrorefiner device comprises two anodes in predetermined spatial relation to a cathode. The anodese have separate current and voltage controls. A much higher voltage than normal for the electrorefining process is applied to the second anode, thereby facilitating oxidization of uranium (III), U.sup.+, to uranium (IV), U.sup.+4. The current path from the second anode to the cathode is physically shorter than the similar current path from the second anode to the spent nuclear fuel contained in a first anode shaped as a basket. The resulting U.sup.+4 oxidizes and solubilizes rough uranium deposited on the surface of the cathode. A softer uranium metal surface is left on the cathode and is more readily removed by a scraper.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Mar 14 00:00:00 EST 2006},
month = {Tue Mar 14 00:00:00 EST 2006}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Preparation of uranium by electrolysis in chloride melt
journal, December 2000
- Serrano, K.; Taxil, P.; Dugne, O.
- Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 282, Issue 2-3