Method of producing sulfur tetrafluoride from uranium tetrafluoride
OwnerBamidele A. Omotowainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for converting depleted uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) to triuranium octaoxide (U3O8), and producing sulfur tetrafluoride, using a two step process. The first step uses heat and a mixture of the uranium tetrafluoride and an alkaline compound, either an alkaline oxide or an alkaline hydroxide, to produce U3O8 and a water-soluble metal halide. The second step uses heat, sulfur and a halogen to produce sulfur tetrafluoride and triuranium octaoxide.
Claims24
A method for converting depleted uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) to uranium free sulfur tetrafluoride and triuranium octaoxide (U3O8), comprising the steps of:
- heating in a first step a mixture of uranium tetrafluoride and an alkaline compound in a first step at 350 degrees C. to 650 degrees C. in a reaction chamber for 60 minutes to 240 minutes to produce a mixture of the respective alkaline fluoride and U3O8;
- continuously flushing said reaction chamber with dry air during heating;
- filtering reaction offgases to prevent particulate uranium from escaping from said reaction chamber;
- heating in a second step the mixture of the respective alkaline fluoride and U3O8 from said first step, combined with sulfur (S) and a halogen, at a temperature of 25 degrees C. to 80 degrees C., for 6 hours to 120 hours;
- to produce sulfur tetrafluoride (SF4) gas, and solid of the corresponding metal halide and U3O8 as byproducts.
A method for converting depleted uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) to uranium free sulfur tetrafluoride and triuranium octaoxide (U3O8), comprising the steps of:
- heating in a first step a mixture of tetrafluoride and cesium oxide in a first step at 350 degrees C. to 650 degrees C. in a reaction chamber for 60 minutes to 240 minutes to produce a mixture of cesium fluoride and U3O8;
- continuously flushing said reaction chamber with dry air during heating;
- filtering reaction off gasses to prevent particulate uranium from escaping from said reaction chamber;
- heating in a second step the mixture of cesium fluoride and U3O8 from said first step, combined with sulfur (S) and chlorine, at a temperature of 25 degrees C. to 80 degrees C., for 6 hours to 120 hours;
- to produce sulfur tetrafluoride (SF4) gas, and solid byproducts of cesium chloride (CsCl) and U3O8.
A method for converting depleted uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) to uranium free sulfur tetrafluoride and triuranium octaoxide (U3O8), comprising the steps of:
- heating in a first step a mixture of uranium tetrafluoride and cesium hydroxide in a first step at 350 degrees C. to 650 degrees C. in a reaction chamber for 60 minutes to 240 minutes chamber to produce a mixture of cesium fluoride and U3O8;
- continuously flushing said reaction chamber with dry air during heating;
- filtering reaction offgases to prevent particulate uranium from escaping from said reaction;
- heating in a second step the mixture of cesium fluoride and U3O8 from said first step, combined with sulfur (S) and chlorine, at a temperature of 25 degrees C. to 80 degrees C., for 96 hours to 120 hours;
- to produce sulfur tetrafluoride (SF4) gas, and solid byproducts of cesium chloride (CsCl) and U3O8.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.