METHOD FOR PROCESSING URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC C22B60/02 C01G43/06 C01G43/01 G21F9/34 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the chemistry and technology of uranium and can be used in the nuclear industry for the conversion of depleted (waste) uranium hexafluoride (DUHF), the accumulated reserves of which exceed 600 thousand tons and represent a great environmental hazard. The method for processing uranium hexafluoride includes cooling uranium hexafluoride, when it is removed from the container, hydrolysis followed by precipitation and separation of uranium from an aqueous solution, while the removal of uranium hexafluoride from the container is carried out by washing out uranium hexafluoride with a chemically inert and water-insoluble generalized liquid from the class of perfluorocarbons C_nF_2n+2, the hydrolysis of the resulting suspension is carried out by washing with water at a temperature not exceeding 35-40°C, until the transition of uranium to the aqueous phase is complete, the resulting emulsion undergoes stratification, after which the organic phase is again used to wash out hexafluoride, and uranium is isolated from the aqueous phase. For washing the suspension with water and subsequent stratification of the liquid emulsion, a mixer-settler unit is used.

EFFECT: reducing the proportion of manual labor, increasing the safety of the operating personnel, and reducing the loss of uranium.

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