Dana N Christensen

US Patent:

44591535, Jul 10, 1984

Filed:

Sep 20, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/420432

Inventors:

Lawrence J. Mullins - Los Alamos NM
Dana C. Christensen - Los Alamos NM

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B22C 300

US Classification:

75 841R

Abstract:

A pyrochemical process for extracting plutonium from a plutonium-bearing salt is disclosed. The process is particularly useful in the recovery of plutonium from electrolyte salts which are left over from the electrorefining of plutonium. In accordance with the process, the plutonium-bearing salt is melted and mixed with metallic calcium. The calcium reduces ionized plutonium in the salt to plutonium metal, and also causes metallic plutonium in the salt, which is typically present as finely dispersed metallic shot, to coalesce. The reduced and coalesced plutonium separates out on the bottom of the reaction vessel as a separate metallic phase which is readily separable from the overlying salt upon cooling of the mixture. Yields of plutonium are typically on the order of 95%. The stripped salt is virtually free of plutonium and may be discarded to low-level waste storage.

Address:

1824 Lauderdale Rd, Louisville, KY 40205

VIN:

YS3FD56Y271117374

Make:

SAAB

Model:

9-3

Year:

2007