Patent · US Expired

Method for destroying a nuclear graphite by gasification in aqueous medium

US7465377B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
11References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 10, 2002
Grant dateDec 16, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 2, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC10J2300/09
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process for the treatment of a nuclear graphite contaminated with radioelements includes subjecting the graphite, immersed in a medium containing water, to high-voltage pulses. The pulses have sufficient energy for electric arcs to be initiated and to break the constituent bonds of the water molecules and the carbon-carbon bonds of the graphite. The number of high-voltage pulses is determined so as to convert the graphite into gas.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.