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Title: Method for decontamination of nickel-fluoride-coated nickel containing actinide-metal fluorides

Abstract

The invention is a process for decontaminating particulate nickel contaminated with actinide-metal fluorides. In one aspect, the invention comprises contacting nickel-fluoride-coated nickel with gaseous ammonia at a temperature effecting nickel-catalyzed dissociation thereof and effecting hydrogen-reduction of the nickel fluoride. The resulting nickel is heated to form a melt and a slag and to effect transfer of actinide metals from the melt into the slag. The melt and slag are then separated. In another aspect, nickel containing nickel oxide and actinide metals is contacted with ammonia at a temperature effecting nickel-catalyzed dissociation to effect conversion of the nickel oxide to the metal. The resulting nickel is then melted and separated as described. In another aspect nickel-fluoride-coated nickel containing actinide-metal fluorides is contacted with both steam and ammonia. The resulting nickel then is melted and separated as described. The invention is characterized by higher nickel recovery, efficient use of ammonia, a substantial decrease in slag formation and fuming, and a valuable increase in the service life of the furnace liners used for melting.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Paducah, KY
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
864803
Patent Number(s):
4421556
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-26
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; decontamination; nickel-fluoride-coated; nickel; containing; actinide-metal; fluorides; process; decontaminating; particulate; contaminated; aspect; comprises; contacting; gaseous; ammonia; temperature; effecting; nickel-catalyzed; dissociation; hydrogen-reduction; fluoride; resulting; heated; form; melt; slag; effect; transfer; actinide; metals; separated; oxide; contacted; conversion; metal; melted; described; steam; characterized; recovery; efficient; substantial; decrease; formation; fuming; valuable; increase; service; life; furnace; liners; melting; service life; nickel containing; comprises contacting; nickel oxide; metal fluoride; actinide metals; actinide metal; metal fluorides; actinide-metal fluorides; temperature effecting; gaseous ammonia; nickel fluoride; /75/

Citation Formats

Windt, Norman F, and Williams, Joe L. Method for decontamination of nickel-fluoride-coated nickel containing actinide-metal fluorides. United States: N. p., 1983. Web.
Windt, Norman F, & Williams, Joe L. Method for decontamination of nickel-fluoride-coated nickel containing actinide-metal fluorides. United States.
Windt, Norman F, and Williams, Joe L. Sat . "Method for decontamination of nickel-fluoride-coated nickel containing actinide-metal fluorides". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864803.
@article{osti_864803,
title = {Method for decontamination of nickel-fluoride-coated nickel containing actinide-metal fluorides},
author = {Windt, Norman F and Williams, Joe L},
abstractNote = {The invention is a process for decontaminating particulate nickel contaminated with actinide-metal fluorides. In one aspect, the invention comprises contacting nickel-fluoride-coated nickel with gaseous ammonia at a temperature effecting nickel-catalyzed dissociation thereof and effecting hydrogen-reduction of the nickel fluoride. The resulting nickel is heated to form a melt and a slag and to effect transfer of actinide metals from the melt into the slag. The melt and slag are then separated. In another aspect, nickel containing nickel oxide and actinide metals is contacted with ammonia at a temperature effecting nickel-catalyzed dissociation to effect conversion of the nickel oxide to the metal. The resulting nickel is then melted and separated as described. In another aspect nickel-fluoride-coated nickel containing actinide-metal fluorides is contacted with both steam and ammonia. The resulting nickel then is melted and separated as described. The invention is characterized by higher nickel recovery, efficient use of ammonia, a substantial decrease in slag formation and fuming, and a valuable increase in the service life of the furnace liners used for melting.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}