Ernest Dewitt Lee

US Patent:

50098667, Apr 23, 1991

Filed:

Nov 16, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/437152

Inventors:

Ernest D. Lee - Ogden UT

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C01G 2504
C01G 2704

US Classification:

423 73

Abstract:

Continuous production of zirconium and/or hafnium metal from a fused salt bath in which one of the salts is zirconium and/or hafnium tetrachloride is carried out by feeding additional, make-up zirconium and/or hafnium tetrachloride powder into a zirconium and/or hafnium dissolution area of the bath maintained at a dissolution temperature below which the tetrachloride will vaporize, by circulating portions of the bath into and through a separate but contiguous area maintained at a temperature at which the tetrachloride will vaporize, and by recovering the vaporized tetrachloride. It is preferred that the vaporization area of the bath be wholly surrounded by and insulated from the dissolution area of the bath.

US Patent:

50986783, Mar 24, 1992

Filed:

Apr 27, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/515965

Inventors:

Ernest D. Lee - Ogden UT
Thomas S. Snyder - Oakmont PA
Edward J. Lahoda - Edgewood Borough PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C22B 3410

US Classification:

423 70

Abstract:

The isotopes of zirconium can be partially or completely separated by loading an aqueous solution of an ionic compound of zirconium onto a cationic exchange resin which serves as the stationary phase of a chromatograph, eluting the compound with an aqueous acid and collecting distinct elution volumes representative of each isotope. In a preferred embodiment, the eluant is a strong mineral acid, such as hydrochloric acid and the chromatograph is of a type, such as a continuous annular chromatograph that it can be operated in a continuous, steady state manner.

US Patent:

51124939, May 12, 1992

Filed:

Dec 10, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/624782

Inventors:

Thomas S. Snyder - Oakmont PA
Ernest D. Lee - Ogden UT

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B01D 1508

US Classification:

210656

Abstract:

A simple, low cost continuous process for separating and purifying zirconium and hafnium which eliminates liquid waste and facilitates the management of RCRA and LLW wastes is provided. An aqueous zirconium and hafnium--containing feed solution is prepared and fed to a continuously rotating annular chromatograph containing a bed of acid exchange resin. An acid eluant, such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid or the like, is fed through the acid exchange bed while chromatograph is rotating, which separates the feed into substantially pure zirconium and hafnium fractions and into RCRA and LLW waste fractions. The zirconium and hafnium are processed further into nuclear quality zirconium and hafnium metals. The acid eluant is recycled for reuse in the chromatograph, and the RCRA and LLW waste fractions are disposed of in solid form.

US Patent:

51749718, Dec 29, 1992

Filed:

Oct 10, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/597948

Inventors:

Thomas S. Snyder - Oakmont PA
Michael C. Skriba - Newport Beach CA
Edward J. Lahoda - Edgewood Borough PA
Ernest D. Lee - Ogden UT

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B01D 1508
C22B 3414

US Classification:

423 70

Abstract:

The thermal neutron capture cross-section of zirconium may be altered by altering its natural isotope distribution through a steady state chromatographic separation of these isotopes using an anion exchange resin as the stationary phase of the chromatographic column. Zirconium is dissolved in a very strong acid which causes the formation of a zirconium anion, such as the ZrOCl. sub. 4. sup. -2 anion formed in six normal hydrochloric acid, and eluted off the column with a weaker acid. Distinct elution volumes representative of each isotope are collected. In a preferred embodiment, the process also separates the zirconium from hafnium and the other impurities normally present in the product obtained by chlorinating zircon sand and utilizes a continuous annular chromatograph.

US Patent:

51105667, May 5, 1992

Filed:

Jul 19, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/555342

Inventors:

Thomas S. Snyder - Oakmont PA
Ernest D. Lee - Ogden UT

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C22B 3410

US Classification:

423 70

Abstract:

The isotopes of zirconium can be partially or completely separated by loading an aqueous solution of an ionic compound of zirconium onto a cationic exchange resin with pentavalent phosphorus derived active groups which serves as the stationary phase of a chromatograph, eluting the compound with an aqueous acid and collecting distinct elution volumes representative of each isotope. In a preferred embodiment, the eluant is a strong mineral acid, such as hydrochloric acid and the chromatograph is of a type, such as a continuous annular chromatograph, that it can be operated in a continuous, steady state manner.

US Patent:

50230611, Jun 11, 1991

Filed:

Jul 2, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/546982

Inventors:

Thomas S. Snyder - Oakmont PA
Ernest D. Lee - Ogden UT

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B01D 1508
C22B 3414
C10G 2500
C10G 2700

US Classification:

423 70

Abstract:

The isotopes of zirconium can be partially or completely separated by loading an essentially anhydrous alcoholic solution of an ionic compound of zirconium onto a cationic exchange resin with pentavalent phosphorus derived active groups which serves as the stationary phase of a chromatograph, eluting the compound with an essentially anhydrous alcoholic solution of hydrogen chloride and collecting distinct elution volumes representative of each isotope. In a preferred embodiment, the active groups of the cation exchange resin are derived from di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid, tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide or tributyl phosphate and the chromatograph is of a type, such as a continuous annular chromatograph that it can be operated in a continuous steady state manner.

US Patent:

49137786, Apr 3, 1990

Filed:

Jan 2, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/305125

Inventors:

Ernest D. Lee - Ogden UT
David F. McLaughlin - Oakmont PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C01G 2504
C01G 2704

US Classification:

203 29

Abstract:

Removal of aluminum and iron impurities is accomplished using an absorbing column containing potassium or sodium chloride, producing an aluminum and iron chloride-rich bottoms product and purified Zr(Hf)Cl. sub. 4 vapor at the top of the column. This invention is a continuous process for removing impurities of iron or aluminum chloride or both from vaporous zirconium chloride (or hafnium chloride or a mixture thereof). When iron is being removed from zirconium tetrachloride using potassium chloride, the process comprises: introducing impure zirconium chloride vapor into a middle portion of an absorbing column containing a potassium chloride-containing molten salt phase, the molten salt phase absorbing the iron chloride impurity to produce a zirconium chloride vapor stripped of iron chloride in the top portion of the column; introducing potassium chloride into a top portion of the column; controlling the top portion of the column to between 300. degree. -375. degree. C. ; heating a bottom portion of the column to 450. degree. -550. degree. C. to vaporize zirconium chloride from the molten salt; withdrawing molten salt substantially free of zirconium and hafnium chloride from the bottom portion of the column; and withdrawing zirconium chloride vapor substantially free of iron chloride impurity from the top of the column.