Open AccessA LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF THE FLUORINATION OF CRUDE URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
Author(s) -
O. Sandus,
R.K. Steunenberg
Publication year - 1957
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/4177705
Subject(s) - uranium , fluorine , inert , diluent , fluidized bed , uranium hexafluoride , depleted uranium , hydrogen fluoride , tetrafluoride , chemistry , natural uranium , radiochemistry , hydrogen , materials science , nuclear chemistry , inorganic chemistry , metallurgy , analytical chemistry (journal) , organic chemistry
Ore concentrates were converted directly to crude uranium tetrafluoride by hydrogen reduction aad hydrofluorination in fluidized-bed reactors. Small- scale laboratory experiments demonstrated that this process can be extended to the production of crude uranium hexafluoride through fluorination of the uranium tetrafluoride in a fluidized bed. The satisfactory temperature range for the reaction lies between 300 and 600 deg C. At 450 deg C the fluorine utilization is between 50 and 80%. With excess fluorine, over 99% of the uranium is volatilized from the solid material. The fluidization characteristics of certain materials are improved by the addition of an inert solid diluent to the bed. (auth)