Electrorefining process and apparatus for recovery of uranium and a mixture of uranium and plutonium from spent fuels
US4880506A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 5, 1987 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 5, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W30/50
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An electrorefining process and apparatus for the recovery of uranium and a mixture of uranium and plutonium from spent fuel using an electrolytic cell having a lower molten cadmium pool containing spent nuclear fuel, an intermediate electrolyte pool, an anode basket containing spent fuel, and two cathodes, the first cathode composed of either a solid alloy or molten cadmium and the second cathode composed of molten cadmium. Using this cell, additional amounts of uranium and plutonium from the anode basket are dissolved in the lower molten cadmium pool, and then substantially pure uranium is electrolytically transported and deposited on the first alloy or molten cadmium cathode. Subsequently, a mixture of uranium and plutonium is electrotransported and deposited on the second molten cadmium cathode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.