Recovery of uranium metal using eutectic compositions
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorEdward J. Lahoda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of recovering uranium (U) metal from uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) using a furnace including a reactor is disclosed. The method comprises placing UF4, a first material, and a second material that is different from the first material into the reactor. A eutectic composition comprising the first material, the second material, and fluoride has a melting point that is less than the melting point of U. The method further comprises raising the initial temperature of the UF4, the first material, and the second material to initiate a reaction between the first material, the second material, and the UF4 which drives the temperature of the reactor to a raised temperature to form a slag phase and a metal phase separate from the slag phase in the reactor.
Claims17
A method of recovering Uranium (U) metal from Uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) using a furnace including a reactor, wherein the method comprises:
- placing UF4, a first material, and a second material into the reactor, wherein the first material and the second material are different, and wherein a eutectic composition comprising the first material, the second material, and fluoride has a melting point that is less than the melting point of U;
- raising the temperature of the UF4, the first material, and the second material to an initial temperature to initiate a reaction between the first material, the second material, and the UF4, wherein the reaction drives the temperature of the reactor to a raised temperature resulting in the formation of a slag phase and a metal phase separate from the slag phase in the reactor, wherein the slag phase comprises the eutectic composition, and wherein the metal phase comprises U metal;
- and
- separating the metal phase from the slag phase.
A method of recovering Uranium (U) metal from a slag mixture comprising U metal and a first material using a furnace including a reactor, wherein the method comprises:
- placing the slag mixture of U metal and the first material into the reactor along with a second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different, and wherein a eutectic composition comprising the first material and the second material has a melting point that is less than the melting point of U;
- raising the reactor to a temperature at or above the melting point of U to form a molten slag phase and a molten metal phase separate from the molten slag phase in the reactor, wherein the molten slag phase comprises the eutectic composition, and wherein the molten metal phase comprises U metal;
- and
- separating the metal phase from the slag phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.