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Title: Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel

Abstract

A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO.sub.2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.

Inventors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1260245
Patent Number(s):
9,382,632
Application Number:
14/312,098
Assignee:
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC (Aiken, SC)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC09-08SR22470
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2014 Jun 23
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION

Citation Formats

Garcia-Diaz, Brenda L., Martinez-Rodriguez, Michael J., Gray, Joshua R., and Olson, Luke C. Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel. United States: N. p., 2016. Web.
Garcia-Diaz, Brenda L., Martinez-Rodriguez, Michael J., Gray, Joshua R., & Olson, Luke C. Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel. United States.
Garcia-Diaz, Brenda L., Martinez-Rodriguez, Michael J., Gray, Joshua R., and Olson, Luke C. 2016. "Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1260245.
@article{osti_1260245,
title = {Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel},
author = {Garcia-Diaz, Brenda L. and Martinez-Rodriguez, Michael J. and Gray, Joshua R. and Olson, Luke C.},
abstractNote = {A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO.sub.2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1260245}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 05 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Tue Jul 05 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

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