Uranium dioxide electrolysis
Abstract
This is a single stage process for treating spent nuclear fuel from light water reactors. The spent nuclear fuel, uranium oxide, UO.sub.2, is added to a solution of UCl.sub.4 dissolved in molten LiCl. A carbon anode and a metallic cathode is positioned in the molten salt bath. A power source is connected to the electrodes and a voltage greater than or equal to 1.3 volts is applied to the bath. At the anode, the carbon is oxidized to form carbon dioxide and uranium chloride. At the cathode, uranium is electroplated. The uranium chloride at the cathode reacts with more uranium oxide to continue the reaction. The process may also be used with other transuranic oxides and rare earth metal oxides.
- Inventors:
-
- Batavia, IL
- Prescott, AZ
- Naperville, IL
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 970597
- Patent Number(s):
- 7638026
- Application Number:
- 11/215,202
- 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-31109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
Citation Formats
Willit, James L, Ackerman, John P, and Williamson, Mark A. Uranium dioxide electrolysis. United States: N. p., 2009.
Web.
Willit, James L, Ackerman, John P, & Williamson, Mark A. Uranium dioxide electrolysis. United States.
Willit, James L, Ackerman, John P, and Williamson, Mark A. Tue .
"Uranium dioxide electrolysis". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/970597.
@article{osti_970597,
title = {Uranium dioxide electrolysis},
author = {Willit, James L and Ackerman, John P and Williamson, Mark A},
abstractNote = {This is a single stage process for treating spent nuclear fuel from light water reactors. The spent nuclear fuel, uranium oxide, UO.sub.2, is added to a solution of UCl.sub.4 dissolved in molten LiCl. A carbon anode and a metallic cathode is positioned in the molten salt bath. A power source is connected to the electrodes and a voltage greater than or equal to 1.3 volts is applied to the bath. At the anode, the carbon is oxidized to form carbon dioxide and uranium chloride. At the cathode, uranium is electroplated. The uranium chloride at the cathode reacts with more uranium oxide to continue the reaction. The process may also be used with other transuranic oxides and rare earth metal oxides.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 EST 2009},
month = {Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 EST 2009}
}
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