METHOD OF PROCESSING URANIUM-ZIRCONIUM WASTES Russian patent published in 2017 - IPC G21C19/44 G21F9/14 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to hydrometallurgy of uranium and can be used in regeneration as a result of chemical treatment, defective or unclaimed fuel elements. Oxidised fragments are treated with (3-6)N nitric acid in ratio of reacting phases S:L = 1:(3÷6) for 4–6 hours at temperature 70–90 °C. Method then includes filtration and extraction of uranium from solution. Invention allows to significantly reduce rate of corrosion of equipment due to selective dissolution of uranium, provides more than 98 % extraction of uranium without using hydrofluoric acid and also significantly optimises processing.

EFFECT: method of processing uranium-zirconium wastes in form of fuel elements consists in that initial fuel elements are subjected to fragmentation and oxidised in air at 1,000–1,250 °C to constant weight.

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