Method for recovering uranium from components contaminated with uranium oxide

US11486023B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• FRAMATOME · FR

Inventors

• Alfons Roppelt · Forchheim, DE
• Sebastian Hoppe · Bad Sachsa, DE
• Wolfgang Schmid · Regensburg, DE
• Rainer Bezold · Dormitz, DE
• Juergen Eissner · Maulmacher, DE
• Norbert Bergmann · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 27, 2019
• Grant date: Nov 1, 2022
• Expiry date: Apr 1, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/20
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for recovering uranium from components contaminated with uranium oxide includes providing a cleaning apparatus with a cleaning solution for dissolving the uranium oxide of the components, carrying out a cleaning process by introducing a batch of components into the cleaning apparatus, and carrying out a measurement for determining the uranium content of the components. The cleaning and the measuring are repeated if a limit value for the uranium content is exceeded. The components are discharged from the process if the uranium content falls below a limit value. The cleaning is carried out on a plurality of successive batches of components until a control measurement indicates an unsatisfactory cleaning action of the cleaning solution. The uranium oxide dissolved in the cleaning solution is recovered after indication of the unsatisfactory cleaning action.