Method for selectively removing fluorine and fluorine-containing contaminants from gaseous UF.sub.6
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsRobert L. Jones, Milton G. Otey, Roy W. Perkins
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Abstract
This invention is a method for effecting preferential removal and immobilization of certain gaseous contaminants from gaseous UF.sub.6. The contaminants include fluorine and fluorides which are more reactive with CaCO.sub.3 than is UF.sub.6. The method comprises contacting the contaminant-carrying UF.sub.6 with particulate CaCO.sub.3 at a temperature effecting reaction of the contaminant and the CaCO.sub.3.
Claims10
The method of treating a gaseous mixture of UF.sub.6 and a contaminant selected from the group consisting of fluorine and gaseous fluorides which are more reactive with CaCO.sub.3 than is UF.sub.6, to effect selective removal of said contaminant from said mixture, comprising:
- contacting said mixture with particulate CaCO.sub.3 at a temperature effecting reaction of said contaminant and said CaCO.sub.3, and
- recovering the resulting purified gaseous UF.sub.6.
The method of selectively removing a gaseous contaminant selected from the group consisting of F.sub.2, ClF.sub.3, ClF, ClO.sub.2 F, PuF.sub.6, NpF.sub.6, TcF.sub.6, VF.sub.5, VOF.sub.3, RuF.sub.5, MoF.sub.6, and chromium fluorides from a stream of gaseous UF.sub.6 containing said contaminant, said method comprising:
- passing said stream through a bed of particulate CaCO.sub.3 at a temperature effecting reaction of said contaminant and said bed.
The method of selectively removing a gaseous contaminant selected from the group consisting of F.sub.2, metal fluorides, ClF.sub.3, ClF, ClO.sub.2 F, and VOF.sub.3 from a stream of gaseous UF.sub.6 containing said contaminant, comprising:
- providing a substantially moisture-free bed of particulate CaCO.sub.3, heating said bed to a temperature in the range of from about 300.degree. to 1200.degree. F., and
- passing said stream through said bed at a flow rate providing a residence-time in said bed of from about 0.4 to 5 ft/sec.
The method of selectively removing HF from a gaseous stream containing HF and UF.sub.6, comprising:
- passing said stream through a bed of CaCO.sub.3 at a temperature effecting reaction of said HF and said CaCO.sub.3, said stream also having incorporated therein a gaseous agent for decomposing water formed as a byproduct of said reaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.