Method and apparatus for reducing uranium trioxide
AssigneeCameco Corporation
InventorMikhail Simonovich Ioffe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Uranium trioxide is reduced to uranium dioxide using microwave radiation or radiofrequency radiation directed in such a way that the radiation encounters an interface between uranium trioxide and the uranium-containing reduction product without first having passed through that product. By this method, and also using a reducing gas, it is possible to obtain UO2 with an O:U ratio less than 2.04:1.
Claims10
Apparatus for use in reducing UO3 by means of microwave or radiofrequency radiation, wherein the apparatus comprises (i) a container for containing UO3 and another oxide of uranium and (ii) a source of microwave or radiofrequency radiation that, in operation of the apparatus, directs the radiation towards the interface between the UO3 and the other oxide of uranium in such a manner that the radiation only encounters the interface without having passed through the other oxide of uranium.
An apparatus for use in reducing UO3 by either microwave or radiofrequency radiation, wherein the apparatus comprises (i) a container for containing UO3 and another oxide of uranium and (ii) a source of microwave or radiofrequency radiation that, in operation of the apparatus, directs the radiation towards the interface between the UO3 and the other oxide of uranium in such a manner that the radiation only encounters the interface without having passed through the other oxide of uranium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.