Uranium dioxide electrolysis
US7638026B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 24, 2005 |
| Grant date | Dec 29, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 28, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC25C3/34
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This is a single stage process for treating spent nuclear fuel from light water reactors. The spent nuclear fuel, uranium oxide, UO2, is added to a solution of UCl4 dissolved in molten LiCl. A carbon anode and a metallic cathode is positioned in the molten salt bath. A power source is connected to the electrodes and a voltage greater than or equal to 1.3 volts is applied to the bath. At the anode, the carbon is oxidized to form carbon dioxide and uranium chloride. At the cathode, uranium is electroplated. The uranium chloride at the cathode reacts with more uranium oxide to continue the reaction. The process may also be used with other transuranic oxides and rare earth metal oxides.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.