Uranium dioxide preparation
AssigneeExxon Nuclear Company, Inc.
InventorsGeorge W. Watt, Daniel W. Baugh, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actinide dioxide, e.g. uranium dioxide, is prepared by reacting an actinide nitrate or hydrate or tetrahydrofuranate thereof, e.g. uranyl nitrate, a hydrate of uranyl nitrate or a tetrahydrofuranate of uranyl nitrate with an alkali or alkaline earth metal adduct of a monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon in the presence of an inert organic solvent. Typically, the starting material may be uranyl nitrate dihydrate or uranyl nitrate ditetrahydrofuranate (the latter material is a novel composition of matter) with a reactant such as the sodium adduct of naphthalene in the presence of a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran. The resultant uranium dioxide may be further purified by heating it in the presence of hydrogen.
Claims15
A process for the preparation of an actinide dioxide comprising reacting a starting material comprising an actinide compound selected from the group consisting of (a) plutonyl nitrate, a hydrate of plutonyl nitrate or a tetrahydrofuranate of plutonyl nitrate, (b) neptunyl nitrate, a hydrate of neptunyl nitrate or a tetrahydrofuranate of neptunyl nitrate and (c) uranyl nitrate, a hydrate of uranyl nitrate or a tetrahydrofuranate of uranyl nitrate with a reactant comprising an alkali or alkaline earth metal adduct of a monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon in the presence of an inert organic solvent.
A process for the preparation of uranium dioxide comprising reacting uranyl nitrate dihydrate with the sodium adduct of naphthalene in the presence of tetrahydrofuran.
A process for the preparation of uranium dioxide comprising reacting uranyl nitrate ditetrahydrofuranate with the sodium adduct of naphthalene in the presence of tetrahydrofuran.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.