Method for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866463

Duerksen, Walter K ^[1]

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1. Norris, TN

A process is described for converting scrap and waste uranium oxide to uranium metal. The uranium oxide is sequentially reduced with a suitable reducing agent to a mixture of uranium metal and oxide products. The uranium metal is then converted to uranium hydride and the uranium hydride-containing mixture is then cooled to a temperature less than -100.degree. C. in an inert liquid which renders the uranium hydride ferromagnetic. The uranium hydride is then magnetically separated from the cooled mixture. The separated uranium hydride is readily converted to uranium metal by heating in an inert atmosphere. This process is environmentally acceptable and eliminates the use of hydrogen fluoride as well as the explosive conditions encountered in the previously employed bomb-reduction processes utilized for converting uranium oxides to uranium metal.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4717420
• OSTI ID: 866463
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
converting
uranium
oxides
metal
process
described
scrap
waste
oxide
sequentially
reduced
suitable
reducing
agent
mixture
products
converted
hydride
hydride-containing
cooled
temperature
-100
degree
inert
liquid
renders
ferromagnetic
magnetically
separated
readily
heating
atmosphere
environmentally
acceptable
eliminates
hydrogen
fluoride
explosive
conditions
encountered
previously
employed
bomb-reduction
processes
utilized
inert liquid
uranium oxide
inert atmosphere
reducing agent
uranium metal
reduction process
readily converted
uranium oxides
environmentally acceptable
converting uranium
hydrogen fluoride
sequentially reduce
oxide product
/75/