Chemistry of inorganic compounds – Radioactive – Uranium compound
Patent
1973-09-14
1976-09-14
Padgett, Benjamin R.
Chemistry of inorganic compounds
Radioactive
Uranium compound
423 11, 423 15, 423 16, C01G 4300
Patent
active
039807576
ABSTRACT:
A process for treating the aqueous effluents that are produced in converting gaseous UF.sub.6 (uranium hexafluoride) into solid UO.sub.2 (uranium dioxide) by way of an intermediate (NH.sub.4).sub.4 UO.sub.2 (CO.sub.3) .sub.3 ("AUC" Compound) is disclosed. These effluents, which contain large amounts of NH.sub. 4.sup.+ (ammonium), CO.sub.3.sup.-.sup.- (carbonate), F.sup.- (fluoride), and a small amount of U (uranium), are mixed with H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 (sulfuric acid) in order to expel CO.sub.2 (carbon dioxide) and thereby reduce the carbonate concentration. The uranium is precipitated through treatment with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 (hydrogen peroxide) and the fluoride is easily recovered in the form of CaF.sub.2 (calcium fluoride) by contacting the process liquid with CaO (calcium oxide). The presence of SO.sub.4.sup.-.sup.- (sulfate) in the process liquid during CaO contacting seems to prevent the development of a difficult-to-filter colloid. The process also provides for NH.sub.3 (ammonia) recovery and recycling. Liquids discharged from the process, moreover, are essentially free of environmental pollutants. The waste treatment products, i.e. CO.sub.2, NH.sub.3, and U are economically recovered and recycled back into the UF.sub.6 .fwdarw.UO.sub.2 conversion process. The process, moreover, recovers the uranium as a precipitate in the second stage. This precipitate is a new inorganic chemical compound UO.sub.4.2NH.sub.3.2HF [uranyl peroxide-2-ammonia-2- (hydrogen fluoride)].
REFERENCES:
patent: 2659655 (1953-11-01), Sweet
patent: 2764470 (1956-09-01), Richardson et al.
patent: 2780515 (1957-02-01), Miller et al.
patent: 2790702 (1957-04-01), McCullough
patent: 2847277 (1958-08-01), King et al.
patent: 2900227 (1959-08-01), Dancy et al.
patent: 3174821 (1965-03-01), Opratko et al.
patent: 3238014 (1966-03-01), Gens
patent: 3842155 (1974-10-01), Muller et al.
Cefalo A. P.
Maguire J. M.
Miller Edward A.
Padgett Benjamin R.
Sinnott J. P.
LandOfFree
Process for uranium separation and preparation of UO.sub.4.2NH.s does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Process for uranium separation and preparation of UO.sub.4.2NH.s, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Process for uranium separation and preparation of UO.sub.4.2NH.s will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1027039