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US 6,379,634 B1Granted
Ionic liquids as solvents
AssigneeBritish Nuclear Fuels plc
InventorsMark Fields, Graham Victor Hutson, Kenneth Richard Seddon, Charles Mackintosh Gordon
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AssigneeBritish Nuclear Fuels plc
InventorsMark Fields, Graham Victor Hutson, Kenneth Richard Seddon, Charles Mackintosh Gordon
Estimating the term…
A method of dissolving in an ionic liquid a metal in an initial oxidation state below its maximum oxidation state, characterized in that the ionic liquid reacts with the metal and oxidizes it to a higher oxidation state. The initial metal may be in the form of a compound thereof and may be irradiated nuclear fuel comprising UO2 and/or PuO2 as well as fission products. The ionic liquid typically is nitrate-based, for example a pyridinium or substituted imidazolium nitrate, and contains a Bronstead or Franklin acid to increase the oxidizing power of the nitrate. Suitable acids are HNO3, H2SO4 and [NO+]. Imidazolium nitrates and certain pyridinium nitrates form one aspect of the invention.
A method of dissolving in a solvent a metal in an initial oxidation state below its maximum oxidation state, in which method the solvent reacts with the metal and oxidizes it to a higher oxidation state, wherein the solvent is an ionic liquid comprising an organic cation and has a melting point no greater than 100° C., and wherein the metal in its initial oxidation state is UO2 or PuO2, or a mixture thereof.
A method of dissolving in a solvent a metal in an initial oxidation state below its maximum oxidation state, in which method the solvent reacts with the metal and oxidizes it to a higher oxidation state, wherein the solvent is an ionic liquid comprising an organic cation and has a melting point no greater than 100° C., wherein said organic cation is a nitrogen heterocycle containing quaternary nitrogen and is a N-substituted pyridinium or N,N′-disubstituted imidazolium, and wherein the metal in its initial oxidation state is UO2 or PuO2, or a mixture thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.