Process for continuous production of metallic uranium and uranium alloys
- Livermore, CA
- Los Alamos, NM
A method is described for forming metallic uranium, or a uranium alloy, from uranium oxide in a manner which substantially eliminates the formation of uranium-containing wastes. A source of uranium dioxide is first provided, for example, by reducing uranium trioxide (UO.sub.3), or any other substantially stable uranium oxide, to form the uranium dioxide (UO.sub.2). This uranium dioxide is then chlorinated to form uranium tetrachloride (UCl.sub.4), and the uranium tetrachloride is then reduced to metallic uranium by reacting the uranium chloride with a metal which will form the chloride of the metal. This last step may be carried out in the presence of another metal capable of forming one or more alloys with metallic uranium to thereby lower the melting point of the reduced uranium product. The metal chloride formed during the uranium tetrachloride reduction step may then be reduced in an electrolysis cell to recover and recycle the metal back to the uranium tetrachloride reduction operation and the chlorine gas back to the uranium dioxide chlorination operation.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5421855
- OSTI ID:
- 869915
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
continuous
production
metallic
uranium
alloys
method
described
forming
alloy
oxide
manner
substantially
eliminates
formation
uranium-containing
wastes
source
dioxide
provided
example
reducing
trioxide
uo
stable
form
chlorinated
tetrachloride
ucl
reduced
reacting
chloride
metal
step
carried
presence
capable
melting
product
formed
reduction
electrolysis
cell
recover
recycle
operation
chlorine
gas
chlorination
chloride form
uranium chloride
forming metal
form uranium
uranium dioxide
uranium oxide
uranium alloy
metal chloride
uranium alloys
continuous production
chlorine gas
metallic uranium
reduction step
substantially eliminates
stable uranium
metal capable
substantially eliminate
uranium product
containing wastes
reducing uranium
electrolysis cell
containing waste
forming metallic
metal cap
reduced uranium
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