Electroseparation of actinide and rare earth metals

US5582706A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Rockwell International Corporation · US

Inventors

• LeRoy F. Grantham · Calabasas, US
• Jerold Guon · Calabasas, US
• David Grimmett · Simi Valley, US
• Lowell R. McCoy · Calabasas, US
• Jeffery J. Roy · Newbury Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 2, 1995
• Grant date: Dec 10, 1996
• Expiry date: Jun 2, 2015

Classification

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

Abstract

A pyrochemical process is utilized to recover 99% of the remaining transuranium materials from plutonium-uranium extraction waste. One step of the overall pyrochemical process involves the electrochemical separation of the waste components. A solid anode and a solid cathode are used in this electrochemical separation step to electrorefine in single or multiple steps. The solid anode and solid cathode are selected from certain preferred anodic and cathodic materials. Where multiple electrorefining steps are used to obtain more complete electroseparation, this is achieved by employing in the multiple electrorefining steps both a solid anode, suitably graphite, and a molten metal anode containing a mixture of the actinide and rare earth elements. This results in greater separation than can be realized through electroseparation by use of either anode alone.