Method of producing uranium metal
AssigneeBritish Nuclear Fuels plc
InventorPaul Gilchrist
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Abstract
Uranium chloride is reacted with either magnesium, sodium or calcium in the presence of a molten salt comprising light metal chlorides including lithium chloride. The temperature is maintained below the melting point of uranium. The magnesium may be in the form of magnesium-cadmium alloy, the temperature being maintained below the temperature at which magnesium and cadmium vaporize. The components of the molten salt may be first fused together so as to form the molten salt eutectic. Subsequently after separation of the uranium, products of the reaction may be recovered and recycled.
Claims13
A method of producing uranium metal, the method comprising reacting in a reaction vessel at a temperature below the melting point of uranium, uranium chloride with a reductant comprising a member selected from the group consisting of magnesium, sodium and calcium in the presence of a molten salt having components comprising light metal chlorides, one of the components being lithium chloride, to produce a reaction product comprising solid uranium metal which sinks to the bottom of the reaction vessel, and a magnesium chloride by-product dissolved in the molten salt, and recovering the uranium metal product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.