Process to remove rare earths from spent nuclear fuel
US5597538A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jan 28, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W30/50
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a process for removing rare earth elements (RE) from spent nuclear fuel. The spent nuclear fuel is subjected to an oxidation step at a temperature of between about 200.degree. to about 800.degree. C. and a heating step at a temperature of between about 1000.degree. C. to about 1600.degree. C. The process results in the segregation of the spent fuel into a rare earth-rich fluorite-type phase and a rare earth-poor U.sub.3 O.sub.8 phase. The RE-rich fluorite type phase is separated from the RE-poor U.sub.3 O.sub.8 phase by conventional separation techniques such as sieving, air classification, sedimentation and the like.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.