Uranium hexafluoride purification process

US4544531A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES · FR

Inventors

• Jacques Aubert · Pierrelatte, FR
• Louis Bethuel · Pierrelatte, FR
• Maurice Carles · Pierrelatte, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 10, 1983
• Grant date: Oct 1, 1985
• Expiry date: Feb 10, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02W30/50
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the purification of uranium hexafluoride containing traces of neptunium fluoride and/or plutonium fluoride, wherein the uranium hexafluoride to be purified is contacted with a metal fluoride chosen from the group including lead fluoride PbF.sub.2, uranium fluorides of UF.sub.4+x in which x has a value between 0 and 1 and chromium trifluoride CrF.sub.3, at a temperature such that the plutonium and/or neptunium fluorides are reduced, and wherein the thus purified uranium hexafluoride is recovered.