Abstract:
The method consists in adding ferrous ions and cupric ions to the solution arising from the processing of irradiated fuels after the solution has first been put into contact if necessary with a quantity of oxidizing agent which is just sufficient to destroy in the raw effluent any substance having a potential oxidizing action on the iron which is intended to remain in the ferrous state, in rendering the solution alkaline in order to precipitate the corresponding compounds of copper and of iron, and in coagulating and filtering the slurries obtained.
Abstract:
The disclosure is of a process for recovery of metals, including copper and, where present in sufficient quantities, uranium, gold, and silver, from ores. According to the process, the ores are leached and the recovered metals are deposited on metal sheets, particularly on sheets of iron or aluminum. The metals to be recovered are leached from the ore by highly buffered leach solutions of controlled pH in the range of 2 to 4.
Abstract:
METHOD OF RECOVERING AMERICIUM FROM PLUTONIUM METAL SOURCE MATERIAL WHICH CONTAINS AMERICIUM COMPRISING CONTACTING MOLTEN PLUTONIUM METAL SOURCE MATERIAL WITH AN ABOUT EUAL WEIGHTS OF MOLTEN EQUIMOLAR SALT MIXTURE OF SODIUM CHLORIDE AND POTASSIUM CHLORIDE CONTAINING NOT GREATER THAN ABOUT 25 WEIGHT PERCENT (W/O) PLUTONIUM OXIDE AS REDUCTANT TO CONVERT THE AMERICIUM TO AMERICIUM OXIDE, THEREAFTER SEPARATING THE SALT MIXTURE CONTAINING THE AMERICIUM OXIDE FROM THE PLUTONIUM AND SUBSEQUENTLY SEPARATING AMERICIUM FROM THE SALT MIXTURE.
Abstract:
Plutonium is recovered from an oxidation-resistant plutonium dioxide-molybdenum fuel by reacting the fuel with molten cupric chloride contained in a molten salt to form a soluble plutonium species, an insoluble molybdenum species and a volatile molybdenum species. Plutonium is reduced and separated from the cupric chloride by mixing the salt with a zinc-magnesium or a cadmium-magnesium alloy which is thereafter retorted to leave essentially pure plutonium metal.
Abstract:
1. The method of preparing metallic uranium from UF4 which comprises heating a reaction mixture comprising UF4, calcium in excess of the stoichiometric amount required to reduce said UF4, an ignition agent and Lithium until said mixture ignites, and separating the resulting metal from the resulting slag, said lithium being provided in said mixture in a proportion sufficient to produce a lithium fluoride content of approximately 15 to 30 mole percent in said slag, and said ignition agent being selected from the group consisting of iodine and a finely divided mixture of magnesium with an alkali metal iodate and an alkali metal peroxide.
Abstract:
A PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FISSION PRODUCTS FROM URANIUM AND/OR PLUTONIUM EMPLOYING LIQUID METALS AND LIQUID SALT AS SOLVENT IS DISCLOSED. A SOLUTION OF URANIUM AND/OR PLUTONIUM IN A LIQUID METAL IS FLOWED SEQUENTIALLY INTO AND THROUGH A PLURALITY OF MIXER-SETTLERS CONTAINING A LIQUID SALT WHICH REMOVE CERTAIN FISSION PRODUCTS FROM THE FEED SOLUTION AS WELL AS A SMALL PROPORTION OF THE URANIUM AND/OR PLUTONIUM. THE URANIUM AND/OR PLUTONIUM IS REMOVED FROM THE FEED SOLUTION IN ANOTHER MIXER-SETTLER AND THE LIQUID METAL SOLVENT IS RECYCLED TO THE FIRST MIXER-SETTLER WHERE IT WASHES ALL OF THE URANIUM AND/OR PLUTONIUM FROM THE LIQUID SALT PRESENT THEREIN. THE LIQUID SALT IN THE FIRST MIXER-SETTLER IS DISCARDED, THE LIQUID SALT IN SUBSEQUENT MIZER-SETTLERS IS TRANSFERRED BETWEEN STAGES AND FRESH LIQUID SALT IS ADDED TO THE LAST MIXER-SETTLE. ALSO DISCLOSED IS A SYSTEM INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF MIXER-SETTLERS WHICH INCLUDE AN L-SHAPED BAFFLE IN THE SETTLING CHAMBER.
Abstract:
TITANIUM OCCURRING AS AN IMPURITY IN MONAZITE ORES IS REMOVED BY TREATMENT OF A THORIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION DERIVED FROM SAID ORES WHICH CONTAINS SAID TITANIUM WITH TANNIC ACID TO PRECIPITATE THE TITANIUM, THEREBY REMOVING 90% OR MORE OF THE LATTER.
Abstract:
Plutonium dioxide is reduced to plutonium metal by adding the plutonium dioxide and calcium to a flux consisting of 5 to 20 weight percent calcium fluoride and 95 to 80 weight percent calcium chloride held at about 800* C. The plutonium dioxide and calcium may be added simultaneously or sequentially; however, the weight of unreacted plutonium dioxide in the flux must never exceed 20 percent of the weight of the flux and no more than a slight excess of calcium may be present in the flux. The plutonium metal is removed to one vessel and the salt removed to another where it is contacted with calcium-30 weight percent zinc to remove residual plutonium therefrom.